| The Sunlight Rule |
The Sunlight Rule
"Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously said “Sunlight is the best
disinfectant.” Indeed some of the most malignant growth of our government has
been nurtured under a cover of darkness.
Literally, in the dark hours of the morning at the end of the year, it has become
tradition for the Appropriations committee to rush the famous omnibus bill to the
floor for a vote, mere hours after it is introduced. The vote took place at 4 am the
last time an omnibus spending bill was before us. We had all of 4 hours to
deliberate on almost 1400 pages of important legislation. My colleagues somehow
found this acceptable, however, and the bill passed 212-206.
The bill for the Expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
was also rushed to the floor with little time to examine the lengthy text of the
legislation. If approved by the Senate this measure would increase taxes by an
additional $53.8 billion over 5 years and further extend the federal government’s
reach into the healthcare of American citizens. Similar processes were followed for
raising the minimum wage, providing funding for stem cell research and
implementing the 9-11 conference.
Of course, the most well-known example of this phenomenon might be the Patriot
Act. Legislators passed the 300+ page bill less than a day after it was introduced,
many out of an urgency to do something. But we are sent to Washington to make
informed decisions on public policy. The very least constituents expect is that their
elected representatives read the legislation citizens will be subject to, and taxed
for. And once they have read it, to weigh the constitutionality and the merits of the
legislation. How can lawmakers possibly do that without reasonable time allotted?
This has long been a concern of mine, and for this reason I have reintroduced The
Sunlight Rule. (H.RES 63) This proposed rule stipulates that no piece of legislation
can be brought before the House of Representatives for a vote unless it has been
available to members and staff to read for at least ten days. Any amendments must
be available for at least 72 hours before a vote. The Sunlight Rule provides the
American people the opportunity to be involved in enforcing congressional rules by
allowing citizens to move for censure of any Representative who votes for a bill
brought to the floor in violation of this act.
So far I have two co-sponsors. It is my belief that this simple new rule could greatly
disinfect the House of the creeping, insidious growth, merely by shining the light on
legislation before it is voted on. We need time to think before we enact. The
American people deserve at least this much from their Congress."
- - - Rep. Ron Paul
"Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously said “Sunlight is the best
disinfectant.” Indeed some of the most malignant growth of our government has
been nurtured under a cover of darkness.
Literally, in the dark hours of the morning at the end of the year, it has become
tradition for the Appropriations committee to rush the famous omnibus bill to the
floor for a vote, mere hours after it is introduced. The vote took place at 4 am the
last time an omnibus spending bill was before us. We had all of 4 hours to
deliberate on almost 1400 pages of important legislation. My colleagues somehow
found this acceptable, however, and the bill passed 212-206.
The bill for the Expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
was also rushed to the floor with little time to examine the lengthy text of the
legislation. If approved by the Senate this measure would increase taxes by an
additional $53.8 billion over 5 years and further extend the federal government’s
reach into the healthcare of American citizens. Similar processes were followed for
raising the minimum wage, providing funding for stem cell research and
implementing the 9-11 conference.
Of course, the most well-known example of this phenomenon might be the Patriot
Act. Legislators passed the 300+ page bill less than a day after it was introduced,
many out of an urgency to do something. But we are sent to Washington to make
informed decisions on public policy. The very least constituents expect is that their
elected representatives read the legislation citizens will be subject to, and taxed
for. And once they have read it, to weigh the constitutionality and the merits of the
legislation. How can lawmakers possibly do that without reasonable time allotted?
This has long been a concern of mine, and for this reason I have reintroduced The
Sunlight Rule. (H.RES 63) This proposed rule stipulates that no piece of legislation
can be brought before the House of Representatives for a vote unless it has been
available to members and staff to read for at least ten days. Any amendments must
be available for at least 72 hours before a vote. The Sunlight Rule provides the
American people the opportunity to be involved in enforcing congressional rules by
allowing citizens to move for censure of any Representative who votes for a bill
brought to the floor in violation of this act.
So far I have two co-sponsors. It is my belief that this simple new rule could greatly
disinfect the House of the creeping, insidious growth, merely by shining the light on
legislation before it is voted on. We need time to think before we enact. The
American people deserve at least this much from their Congress."
- - - Rep. Ron Paul
| Rep. Ron Paul is the author of this proposal. |
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 63
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to ensure that Members have
a reasonable amount of time to read legislation that will be voted upon.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 12, 2007
Mr. PAUL (for himself and Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
____________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to ensure that Members have
a reasonable amount of time to read legislation that will be voted upon.
Resolved, That (a) the Rules of the House of Representatives are amended by
adding at the end the following new rule:
`RULE XXIX
`TIME TO READ LEGISLATION BEFORE VOTING
`1. Notwithstanding any provision of these rules, no bill, joint resolution, conference
report, or amendment between the Houses shall be voted on by the House unless
the text of that measure has been available to all Members and their staffs in both
printed and electronic format for at least 10 days and any manager's amendment or
other amendment which makes substantive changes to the legislation has been
made available in both printed and electronic versions for at least 72 hours before
the scheduled vote on such legislation.
`2. Clause 1 shall not apply to--
`(1) the intelligence authorization bill, appropriations, or other legislation containing
classified information, or conference report thereon, if Members have at least 7 days
to study the contents of such measure; and
`(2) congressional declarations of war or authorization of military force to respond
to attacks on the United States.
`3. (a) Any Member who votes for any measure that has been placed before the
House in violation of this rule shall be deemed to have violated House ethics rules
and be subject to censure.
`(b) Notwithstanding any provision of these rules, any citizen who is eligible to vote
and who is not an employee of the executive or judicial branch of the Government
may petition the Committee on Standards and Official Conduct to investigate
allegations that a Member voted for any measure that violated this rule.'.
(b) Clause 6(c) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended
by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (2) and inserting `; or' and by
adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(3) a rule or order that would waive the provisions of rule XXIX.'.
END
1st Session
H. RES. 63
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to ensure that Members have
a reasonable amount of time to read legislation that will be voted upon.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 12, 2007
Mr. PAUL (for himself and Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
____________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to ensure that Members have
a reasonable amount of time to read legislation that will be voted upon.
Resolved, That (a) the Rules of the House of Representatives are amended by
adding at the end the following new rule:
`RULE XXIX
`TIME TO READ LEGISLATION BEFORE VOTING
`1. Notwithstanding any provision of these rules, no bill, joint resolution, conference
report, or amendment between the Houses shall be voted on by the House unless
the text of that measure has been available to all Members and their staffs in both
printed and electronic format for at least 10 days and any manager's amendment or
other amendment which makes substantive changes to the legislation has been
made available in both printed and electronic versions for at least 72 hours before
the scheduled vote on such legislation.
`2. Clause 1 shall not apply to--
`(1) the intelligence authorization bill, appropriations, or other legislation containing
classified information, or conference report thereon, if Members have at least 7 days
to study the contents of such measure; and
`(2) congressional declarations of war or authorization of military force to respond
to attacks on the United States.
`3. (a) Any Member who votes for any measure that has been placed before the
House in violation of this rule shall be deemed to have violated House ethics rules
and be subject to censure.
`(b) Notwithstanding any provision of these rules, any citizen who is eligible to vote
and who is not an employee of the executive or judicial branch of the Government
may petition the Committee on Standards and Official Conduct to investigate
allegations that a Member voted for any measure that violated this rule.'.
(b) Clause 6(c) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended
by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (2) and inserting `; or' and by
adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(3) a rule or order that would waive the provisions of rule XXIX.'.
END
Should our members of
Congress actually have
the time to read the
legislation before
casting their votes?
What a concept!
Congress actually have
the time to read the
legislation before
casting their votes?
What a concept!
10 Days to read a bill
and 72 Hours to read
any amendments.
This will enhance the
public's knowledge of
the back-room dealing
and clear up the
hidden earmarks and
amendments.
and 72 Hours to read
any amendments.
This will enhance the
public's knowledge of
the back-room dealing
and clear up the
hidden earmarks and
amendments.
This is most
interesting:
Citizens may petition
for investigations of
violations of this rule.
interesting:
Citizens may petition
for investigations of
violations of this rule.
| Let Your Members of Congress know your opinion: click here |