There should be a requirement that any time a bill is passed that involves any sort of funding, a recorded vote must be taken.
The voice vote allows congress-critters cover for voting for pork-laden bills, and removes accountability to the constituent.
Far too often, panic bills allow them to be loaded up with crap that has nothing to do with what is supposed to be happening.
Another thing that is needed is any time there is a “panic bill,” is the Presidential Line Item veto, where President Trump COULD HAVE vetoed the $25 million going to the Kennedy Center, which just a few hours after being announced, furloughed it’s workers. So the administrative portion of the KC is funded by the emergency bill, but the employess are not.
Mark
Mark
Never let a crisis go to waste.
BTW - Obamacare wasn’t a Panic Bill (or was it?) but it Passed without anyone even reading it in the dead of night.
99% of the Legislation Congress passes is Unconstitutional on its face, yet it goes on and on.
“....a recorded vote must be taken.”
The use of the electronic device is the only way to be forced to display their vote. A call from their home isn’t. It even states directives from the Committee on Rules that after voting using the card electronically it is wise for the Member to go to another voting station and reinsert the voting card until the light comes on and verifies the vote cast at the first station. The Member should also visually check the voting board to make sure that the light next to his or her name reflects the intended vote. I find it curious that they can’t even trust their own equipment to tell the truth. So forcing the members to vote in house is the only way recordable without human intervention. And I think that’s what he intended to do.
“Far too often, panic bills allow them to be loaded up with crap that has nothing to do with what is supposed to be happening.”
And they should be identified with this and their constituents informed.
“.....where President Trump COULD HAVE vetoed the $25 million going to the Kennedy Center...”
Problem there is that if he line items anything, it will have to go back to the house and it could be over ridden by a two thirds majority. But worse than that, they will make it a point to have their media attack dogs go out and tell the world Trump is stalling while people are dying. They’re already doing it lying about it anyway. But I really feel they were fishing for a reason to get after him in front of the voters...that I think was a trap to do just that. You may not like Massey, and I feel there are others in the house far more dishonest and damaging, but he was going the right direction to protect Trump on this issue whether he meant to or not.
rwood