"The House finds itself in a state of emergency," said Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) yesterday as he outlined several reforms aimed at making it easier to cut government spending, and making Congress more open and accountable. Boehner's remarks at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) came the same week that Democratic leaders refused to hold an up-or-down vote on stopping all the tax hikes on small businesses. Here's some of the coverage:
CUTTING GOVERNMENT SPENDING
>> House GOP leader suggests 'cut-as-you-go' budget: "House Minority Leader John Boehner … says that House rules are rigged to 'make it easy to increase spending and next-to-impossible to cut spending.' Boehner says it may be time for new rules on writing the federal budget, including a 'cut-as-you-go' rule. That would require lawmakers to cut or end an existing government program any time they create a new one." (Associated Press, 9/30/10)
>> Boehner Promises to Reform House Rules and Earmarks: "Boehner said Republicans might seek to rewrite the 1974 Budget Act in order to ensure that spending is reduced drastically. 'The 'pay as you go' rule has been repeatedly ignored to justify billions of dollars in new spending and tax and fee increases,' he said. ... 'We should also consider developing a 'cut as you go' rule that would apply to any member proposing the creation of new government programs or benefits,' Boehner said. 'Very simply, under this 'CutGO' rule, if it is your intention to create a new government program, you must also terminate or reduce spending on an existing government program of equal or greater size — in the very same bill,' Boehner said." (Roll Call, 9/30/10)
>> Boehner calls for spending reform on Hill: "Congress must fundamentally rethink the way it spends taxpayer money, including getting rid of massive multi-agency spending bills and forcing lawmakers who want to add new government programs to first cut an existing one, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner said Thursday. Mr. Boehner... also said he personally will continue to reject earmarks and challenged colleagues to 'end earmarking as we know it'..." (Washington Times, 9/30/10)
>> Boehner: End 'Comprehensive' Spending Bills: "Here's one of his big ideas: Get rid of 'comprehensive' spending bills. 'Let's do away with the concept of 'comprehensive' spending bills. Let's break them up, to encourage scrutiny, and make spending cuts easier. Rather than pairing agencies and departments together, let them come to the House floor individually, to be judged on their own merit.... For decades, the word 'comprehensive' has been used as a positive adjective in Washington. I would respectfully submit that those days are behind us. ... In an era of trillion-dollar deficits, we need a tighter focus; one that places an emphasis on getting it right, and less emphasis on getting it done quickly." (National Review, 9/30/10)
MAKING CONGRESS MORE OPEN AND ACCOUNTABLE
>> John Boehner: A 'state of emergency': "House Minority Leader John Boehner today delivered scathing criticism of House operations and promised major congressional reforms if he becomes speaker following the November election. 'The House finds itself in a state of emergency. The institution does not function, does not deliberate and seems incapable of acting on the will of the people. From the floor to the committee level, the integrity of the House has been compromised' ... Boehner was especially pointed in criticizing recent House actions and inactions, including Democratic leaders' failure this week to permit a House vote on tax cuts that are scheduled to expire in December." (Politico, 9/30/10)
>> John Boehner, would-be Speaker, pitches his roadmap to fix Congress: "In a wide-ranging speech Thursday, House minority leader John Boehner (R) of Ohio said that the 111th Congress was 'not so much concluding as it is collapsing,' and signaled how Republicans would change the House if voters give them back the majority on Nov. 2. ... Boehner acknowledged how his own party had fallen short when it was in power from 1995 to 2006. Both parties presided over fiscal recklessness and a breakdown of regular order, he said. The antidote: a fair debate and a fair vote, he said." (Christian Science Monitor, 9/30/10)
>> Boehner Outlines Changes if G.O.P. Takes House: "Mr. Boehner was among a group of Republicans first elected to the House in 1990, known as the Gang of Seven, who set out to address ethics scandals and Congressional perks that tainted members of both parties. In his speech Thursday, Mr. Boehner seemed to put his own party on notice for a reform-minded agenda that he imagines under his tutelage, but framed it as an antidote to the practices of the current Democratic majority. 'It's hard to guarantee a fair debate,' he said, 'when the majority has the ability to change bills in the dark of night and literally drop them into the laps of the minority just hours before debate is set to start.'" (New York Times, 9/30/10)
In his remarks, Boehner also called for posting all bills online at least three days before a vote and other reforms outlined in the Pledge to America. You can watch his remarks here courtesy AEI.
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READ MORE:
Republicans Eye Reforms to Cut Spending, Make Congress More Open (9/17/10)
Boehner Wants to "Overhaul How the House Does Business" (9/1/10)
By Refusing to "Read the Bill," Democrats Are Circumventing "We the People" (8/18/10)
Desperate Democrats Forget to Name Their Latest "Stimulus" Spending Bill (8/9/10)
Flashback: Hoyer Didn't Think Highly of Reading ObamaCare Either (7/23/10)
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