The Democrats are considering rolling back the reforms adopted by
the U.S. House of Representatives after the Republicans took
control in 1995. That means eliminating
the term limits for committee chairs and making it even more
difficult for the Republican minority to have any input or
impact on legislative outcomes in the House. Republicans will
effectively be banned from amending Democratic bills, proposing
alternative bills or even participating in open debate under
motions to recommit. It's not clear whether open committee
hearings or the ban on committee proxy voting are similarly in
danger.
Remember all the outrage of how intolerant Tom DeLay's House was
of the Democratic minority? If these rules changes are adopted,
Nancy Pelosi's Democrats will be getting rid of protections for
the minority that existed throughtout DeLay's tenure and the
Republican majority. House Republicans leaders have pledged to
fight the changes, but votes on these procedural issues tend to
be along party lines.
