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.