Democrats’ Unprecedented Closed Rule Shuts Down Debate on Troop Funding

March 22, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), House Rules Committee Ranking Republican, today decried the action of the House Democratic-controlled Rules Committee for shutting down the process for consideration of H.R.1591, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. On a strict party line vote, the Rules Committee reported out a self‑executing closed rule and denied the consideration of 54 amendments submitted to the Rules Committee by both Republicans and Democrats.

“There is no denying it. There is no refuting it. Rules Democrats continue to erode our legislative process by denying consideration of amendments,” Dreier stated. “While Republicans provided open rules on all war-related supplemental appropriations bills, Democrats shut Members down on any chance to offer amendments to the largest supplemental appropriations bill we’ve ever seen.”

H.R. 1591 provides $22 billion in emergency spending items that are completely unrelated to the Global War on Terror including $25 million bail out for spinach producers, $60 million for the salmon fishing industry, $5 million for fish breeding, $283 million for the Milk Income Loss Contract program, $74 million for peanut storage costs, and $1.3 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers. It also outlines a disastrous, micro‑management strategy of tying the hands of our military commanders, then mandating withdrawal when they are unable to meet impossible and arbitrary timetables regardless of progress being made on the ground.

“Like many Americans, I, too, am discouraged by the difficulties of this war,” Dreier continued. “We all feel the toll it has taken and are keenly aware of the price that we are paying. I have looked in the faces of constituents whose family and friends have made the ultimate sacrifice in this war. Their pain is very real and their loss is profound. But we do not honor those who have sacrificed their lives or those in the field, who are fighting as we speak, by tying their hands and depriving them of the means to succeed.”