Maybe someone can explain what this is, why it's important. Just the basics.
Just where IS CSPAN when you really NEED them to show up!
Uh Whiney Babies changing the rules of the game when the scoreboard shows they are losing..... Um if we score 1 touchdown late in the 4th quarter can it count for 66 points...? Get the drift.
Clause 7 of Rule XVI of the Rules of the House of Representatives states that:
"No motion or proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment."
The Germaneness Rule: The rules of the House prohibit a bill from being amended with a
subject matter different from the primary text under consideration. This rule, commonly
known as the germaneness rule, is considered the single most important rule of the House of
Representatives because of the need to restrict the focus of such a large legislative body. The
germaneness rule applies to the proceedings in the House, the Committee of the Whole, and
the standing committees.
The rules of the House prohibit amendments of a subject matter different from the text under consideration.
This rule, commonly known as the germaneness rule, is considered the single most important rule of the House of Representatives because of the obvious need to keep the focus of a body the size of the House on a predictable subject matter.
The germaneness rule applies to the proceedings in the House, the Committee of the Whole, and the standing committees. There are hundreds of prior rulings or "precedents" on issues of germaneness available to guide the Chair.
Basically that the motion to amend amendment must be relevant to the main motion. A problem is that the chair gets to decide relevance. Pelosi actually thinks she is henry Clay!
The amendments in question were pretty carefully crafted to exploit divisions, particularly sectional ones, among the Democrat-Republicans ... and they were rather successful in doing so, too. Clay finally had enough, and pushed through the germaneness rule, which was easily done due to his party's huge majority.
Apparently, now, Bela Pelosi & cronies want to (try to) rule ANY Republican amendment out of order due to lack of germaneness. I say 'apparently' because that's the only evident and more or less rational explication of this tactic. Evidently, this is yet another attempt do redefine the plain meaning of a word, a la 'is' by Xlintoon, and 'gay' by the faggots, and 'ethics' by the Democratic Party at large.
If nothing else, this should be vastly amusing, as when considering, say, an AMT bill, Democratic amendments on, say, the 'kick-in' point of the tax will be allowed as 'germane' by the Spewer, er, Speaker, whereas Republican amendments on the same sub-topic will be ruled 'not germane'.
Naturally, I may be incorrect as to Bela's specific intent, insofar as I have a hard time thinking like a criminal. You can, however, bet the ranch and your first-born child that Bela has something like this in mind, if not this specific flimflammery as cited.
I should think that, for once, we are apt to see some spine in Boehner and friends. Why? Because if they let this gross perversion of both language and traditional House procedure stand, they become completely powerless, shouldn't even waste their time showing up for sessions.
As we both know, I'm sure, politicians will not stand for anyone, especially a 'colleague' (sic), taking away a shred of their power.
FReegards!