Martin Hoke: “Congress is back in session, and it is business as usual. Today we begin where we left off last year. We face another…”

“Congress is back in session, and it is business as usual. Today we begin where we left off last year. We face another gag rule put together by the esteemed Committee on Rules. Once again, we witness the blatant rigging of the legislative process and the stifling of debate. But what is it this time? A bipartisan coalition of Republican and Democratic Members wants to offer an amendment to the EPA bill that would require a cost-benefit analysis before imposing any new unfunded mandates on State and local taxpayers. The United States Senate has already passed this measure by a vote of 95 to 3, and public opinion polls indicate that 92 percent of the American people are in favor of it. But what is the Democratic leadership's response? "No way. The amendment is out of order." The people's House will not even be permitted to vote on it. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do their constituents a favor. I urge them to say "no" to one more expensive new bureaucracy, to say "no" to this heavy-handed bullying by the Committee on Rules. I urge them to vote "no" on this gag rule and allow the people's House to work its will.”