Doc Hastings

I am worried about what we call the pay-for part of that because it would have a detrimental effect, as I mentioned, on doctor-owned facilities, particularly in my district, but also in other parts of the country. Since this issue came up…

I could hardly believe my ears when I heard my friend from Florida say that this is a dilatory tactic, and the idea was to, what was it, to deny a vote on this bill? For goodness sakes. Last night there were several attempts, several…

Ever since that time, I might point out to my colleague, there has been a 1-year fix. We know that issue is coming. We know that this issue is coming and it needs to be resolved. It hasn't been resolved, and we know that it won't be…

The gentleman has always been open to debate. I am glad he has given us advice on maybe what we want to put in the motion to recommit. One of the easiest ways to do that obviously would be to have made that amendment in order. He had…

This rule, as it stands, discriminates against amendments made in order. My colleagues who entered into the debate today said they are against discrimination; therefore, I urge them to vote ``no'' on the previous question and for equality.

I believe it is wrong for a substantive legislative issue to be raised on the floor only to deny Americans, through their representatives, a voice on that amendment. Let's be clear about what is happening here. And that is that the rules…

If the pay-for that they are talking about is what was reflected in the budget document, then that will result over time in the largest tax increase on American citizens in the history of this country. If it is not the largest, it is the…

I would ask the gentleman, what bills are covered by the earmark rule, transparency rule, that you are talking about today? What bills?

We think that the intent on both sides of the aisle was to have all earmarks have a transparency to them so we know where those earmarks come from. Under this rule, we are self-executing an amendment, and that amendment is not covered, is…

They said they intended to. And let's look at this from a little different perspective. This facility has been in business for 67 years. Clearly, clearly they have a following in that community, or they wouldn't have survived in that…

It is our goal to use rules responsibly, opening up the workings of the House and using it to usher in the most honest and ethical Congress in history. An open process will mean that more commonsense legislation written in the national…

I would really like to emphasize the point that has been made several times by the distinguished ranking member and the gentleman from Florida, that process has consequences, because ultimately process turns into substance, it turns into…

I appreciate that. Again, I am particularly sensitive, because of the nature of the dams that we are talking about on the Snake River and on the Columbia River in my State. But there's also larger dams throughout the Pacific Northwest. My…

A point that I am simply making is that that is a major part, those dams on the Snake River and the Columbia River are major power sources for all of our electrical power and, therefore, for our economy. And I am just simply concerned…

Fortunately, Mr. Speaker, Republicans succeeded in forcing the Democrat majority to restore the earmark transparency and enforceability rules that they had changed at the beginning of this Congress, and now spending bills are being brought…

None. That is precisely my point. My point is how can a Member offer a second-degree amendment until an amendment has been offered to which a Member could respond to. So the gentlelady talks about 135 amendments. That tends to be somewhere…

First of all, if there is a preprinting requirement, that means that once that deadline is done and debate starts on the floor, no one can come down and amend the rule. Therefore, it's a closed rule. Secondly, I can't say for certain, but…

The Rules Committee exists to make rules for debate on the floor of this House. We, on a regular basis, waive the rules for whatever. In fact, we are going to have the supplemental budget on the floor, and line 1 of that supplemental rule…

Mr. Speaker, our Nation's water resource infrastructure is critical to our economy, transportation system, power generation, flood control and environmental protection and restoration. This is especially true in my area in the Pacific…

I would hope, I would hope that if there is a more closed process under a new majority that there would be similar outrage from the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, the amendment that was offered by our colleague from Oregon, while, yes, it refers to as a mandatory program was simply a 1-year program so that this problem could be fixed.

The American people, and especially the parents of all current and former pages, are entitled to know how this situation was handled.

I ask my friend from New York how many speakers she has, because I at this time have no more requests.

I advise my friend from California I have no more requests for time, so I will reserve my time.

I would just advise my friend, I appreciate his opening remarks and respect the work that he does in international affairs, but I have no requests for time and I am prepared to yield back if the gentleman is.