David Obey: “let me simply note for observation by the gentleman from Kentucky that the Rules of the House allow Members, if the…”

“let me simply note for observation by the gentleman from Kentucky that the Rules of the House allow Members, if the majority decides to proceed under an open rule and under the 5-minute rule, the Rules of the House allow Members to strike the last word any time they want in order to make their points. All the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) is suggesting is that it makes more sense to have those remarks come in direct relationship to an amendment rather than having to strike the last word after the amendment has been disposed of. We did not put this bill together on the minority side, it is put together on the majority side, and it should not be surprising that those in the minority who have no opportunity to, in fact, change the content of the bill at least want an opportunity to explain their concerns about it, which is what the normal amendment process is supposed to be all about.”