Tom Cole: “I rise today to speak to H.R. 2 and the State Children's Health Insurance Program in general. Like many of my…”

“I rise today to speak to H.R. 2 and the State Children's Health Insurance Program in general. Like many of my colleagues, I have been supportive of the underlying legislation. However, the way in which the underlying legislation has been brought forward under a closed rule is unforgiveable. This is simply just one more example of the majority taking away the right of the minority to offer any type of substantive amendment or change to the legislation. Let's review what has occurred this year with the Rules process. First, the majority has seen fit to remove the minority's ability to offer a motion to recommit a bill promptly, taking away a right that even Speaker Joe Cannon sought to guarantee to the minority. Additionally, as the first order of business, the majority decided to include two closed rules for H.R. 11--Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and H.R. 12--Paycheck Fairness Act. Now, as their third order of business, the House Rules Committee and the Democratic Majority has decided to once again close off debate and reject the minority's request to be able to offer even one amendment. Mr. Speaker, the fact is that this legislation was debated in the last Congress and the majority knows the minority has substantive and strong concerns regarding the way in which the underlying legislation will be implemented. This is a process that should be bipartisan. It is a program that has received bipartisan support in the past.”