Joe Pitts: “I am intrigued by the other side's definition of what constitutes ``open and honest.'' After all, that was their pledge…”

“I am intrigued by the other side's definition of what constitutes ``open and honest.'' After all, that was their pledge to America last year: if given control of Congress, they would make it the most open and honest Congress ever. So how has it been going? They started their new openness campaign by not allowing a single amendment to be offered on legislation for nearly a month. That's right. That's right. No amendments from Republicans. Not long after that, they had threatened to clamp down on a basic right of the minority, the motion to recommit that hasn't been changed since 1822. And now that appropriations season is officially under way, more progress. The Democrats decided to take the earmark process behind closed doors and away from the public eye. Closed rules, threatening basic minority rights, secret slush funds for earmark spending. Mr. Speaker, these tactics seem rather closed and deceptive to be taking place in the most ``open and honest'' House in history.”