John Joseph Moakley: “this section is a rule providing for consideration of the Congressional Accountability Act. This is the exact same bill…”

“this section is a rule providing for consideration of the Congressional Accountability Act. This is the exact same bill that we Democrats passed in the House last year. However, sadly, the Republicans derailed it in the Senate, so I do not want anybody out there thinking that we Democrats in the House opposed this. We proposed it, and it passed the House last year. I strongly supported this measure last year and I will support it again this year. Let me add that I am delighted that the Republicans seem to be on board this time. Better late than never. However, Mr. Speaker, I must rise in opposition to the rule we are operating under. This is a closed rule, plain and simple. My left ear has gone deaf from all the catcalls and the charges of gag rule from the minority in the last couple of years, but now they come to the floor and put two closed rules together, so I am really disappointed in the actions of the minority today. Over the years, the cries from the Republicans, maybe Mr. Solomon learned something from me or maybe I learned something from him.”