John Tierney: “The politics of this rule are very simple. They did not want to have a straight matchup of each part of this bill. We…”

“The politics of this rule are very simple. They did not want to have a straight matchup of each part of this bill. We are not allowed to bring forward amendments and talk about the several aspects that you heard the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) talk about earlier, because when you stack them up one against the other, this side that is with the employees, with working people, would win hands down. It is only by putting them all together in the aggregate and then trying to put it through on a party-line vote that they stand to have any prospect of having a bill that favors employers and the well-to-do against people that work every day and need protection. I will associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) on the general aspects of the substitute, and that should pass. Thank God the rule at least allows that. But I had tried, Mr. Speaker, to get in an individual amendment speaking just to the issue of advice and was not allowed the opportunity to do that. That is why this rule is in essence an abomination.”