Alan Simpson: “Now, I understand my colleagues on the other side of the aisle might not like that. It's kind of foreign to them. For…”

“Now, I understand my colleagues on the other side of the aisle might not like that. It's kind of foreign to them. For the last 4 years, we've had rules come to the floor that were closed. Members didn't have an opportunity to amend them. In fact, if we were under the previous leadership, what we would have here is a closed rule, an hour's debate on this CR. We would pass it and it would be done. Members wouldn't have an opportunity to influence the legislation before us. This is part of this majority's promise that we are going to open the process and let the Members of Congress, the elected Representatives of the people, have a say in how we craft this legislation and in how it turns out in the long run. I don't understand, frankly, why Members would oppose the rule. I can understand their opposition to the underlying bill, but to oppose the rule makes no sense whatsoever.”