Louise Slaughter: “I reluctantly oppose this rule, because I would like to support it very much. It is an open rule, and it gives all…”

“I reluctantly oppose this rule, because I would like to support it very much. It is an open rule, and it gives all Members of the House an opportunity to offer amendments that are germane and otherwise in compliance with House rules. I also think that the underlying bill, for the most part, is fair and worthy of support. It provides $13.2 billion in discretionary budget authority, which is a slight increase from last year's bill. It funds most programs at the levels requested, levels that will adequately support the programs and services covered by the bill. But one major exception, however, is the Federal Election Commission, which is funded significantly below the level necessary for the FEC to do its job properly and effectively. Furthermore, authorizing language imposing term limits for the Commission's staff director and general counsel will also hamstring the FEC's ability to do its work in a fair and impartial manner. The rule protects from a point of order critical legislative language to implement a new, fair, and reasonable pay system to adequately compensate Federal firefighters for overtime.”