Open Rules By The Numbers

Today, the House takes up the FY 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations bill under an open rule. That means any member can offer any germane amendment to the bill on the House floor. While this may seem like nothing more than “inside baseball,” it is in fact a fundamentally important issue that directly effects the substantive outcomes of the legislative process. This open rule will be the first one considered by the House in nearly four years and it will not be the last. This open rule launches the entire FY 2012 appropriations season with a spirit of openness and accountability.

H.R. 3581 - Budget and Accounting Transparency Act of 2012

 

COMMITTEE ACTION:
REPORTED BY RECORD VOTE of 6-3 on Monday, February 6, 2012.

FLOOR ACTION ON H. RES. 539: 
Adopted by record vote of 239-181 on February 7, 2012.  

MANAGERS: Woodall/McGovern

1. Structured rule.

2. Provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Budget.

H.R. 3521 — Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011

 

COMMITTEE ACTION:
REPORTED BY RECORD VOTE of 7-4 on Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

FLOOR ACTION ON H. RES. 540: 
Agreed to by record vote of 238-175, after agreeing to the previous question by record vote of 240-184, on Wednesday, February 8, 2012.  
 

MANAGERS: Woodall/Polis

1. Structured rule.

The Budget Control Act of 2011 – A New Approach with Real Incentives to Act

The Budget Control Act of 2011 represents a chance to change the direction of the spending debate in Washington. First, it cuts and caps spending, saving approximately $1.2 trillion over 10 years (subject to CBO confirmation). It also creates a Joint Select Congressional Committee tasked with finding real savings and creating a clear path for its work product to actually receive an up or down vote, so we can begin the process of paying down our debt.

Rules Resource for H.R. 3581 – Budget & Accounting Transparency Act

H.R. 3581 increases the transparency of federal budgeting by bringing off-budget entities on-budget, reforms the accounting methodology used for federal credit programs to reflect best practices from the private sector (fair value accounting), and requires agencies to promptly make public the budget justification materials they submit to Congress in support of their requests for public funds.

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