To our elected Senators and Representatives in the United States Congress in Washington, D.C.
We, the members and friends of Change the Congress in 2010, respectfully request that you return to the procedures as defined in your own rules for processing bills and amendments when presenting them to the full House or Senate for a vote.
After seeing the Stimulus bill and others rushed through their respective committees, then made available at 2 or 3am in the morning for review and reflection the morning of the day that a vote is called for to pass or defeat them, it seems abundantly clear that it is impossible for a Congressional representative to digest and understand the complex language of any bill. That being the case, surely the 3 days of review that your own rules call for is not too much to ask for. This will allow each representative to know the issue at hand and to understand what their position will be before the bill is voted on.
The rules of procedure specify that you should wait 3 days before bringing a bill to the floor for a vote. In the House, that can be found at (excerpt):
Rules for - House of Representatives for 111th Congress - Bills:
Availability of Reports and Hearings
A measure or matter reported by a committee (except the Committee on Rules in the case of a resolution providing a rule, joint rule, or order of business) may not be considered in the House until the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays unless the House is in session on those days) on which the report of that committee on that measure has been available to the members of the House.
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and in the Senate it can be found at (excerpt):
RULE XIV
JOINT RESOLUTIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND PREAMBLES THERETO
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2. Every bill and joint resolution shall receive three readings previous to its passage which readings on demand of any Senator shall be on three different legislative days and the Presiding Officer shall give notice at each reading whether it be the first, second, or third: Provided that each reading may be by title only, unless the Senate in any case shall otherwise order.
3. No bill or joint resolution shall be committed or amended until it shall have been twice read, after which it may be referred to a committee; bills and joint resolutions introduced on leave, and bills and joint resolutions from the House of Representatives, shall be read once, and may be read twice, if not objected to, on the same day for reference, but shall not be considered on that day nor debated, except for reference, unless by unanimous consent.
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We ask that you, in good conscience and respecting the wishes of your constituents follow the rules and agree to pass no legislation, with the exception of laws needed to prevent imminent pain and suffering to the States and citizens thereof, a minimum of 72 hours from the time a bill is reported out of committee before putting it to a full vote on the floor. This is a simple request and will not impact the utility of legislation, but rather will help to reach bipartisan agreement, as well as enhance your image in the eyes of the voting public.
All we ask is that you follow your own rules. Be the responsible voice your constituents expect to produce the most efficient and acceptable law that will be accepted and respected once passed.
Thank you for you attention to this major concern that we, the people present to you today. We, the undersigned do request, nay require %u2013 that you do the proper thing in regards to this.
