CONGRESSIONAL REFORM
Common Cause has also been concerned about the potential abuse of congressional rules and procedures that effectively shut out minority views. This pattern has become evident in various ways over recent years:
- Conference committees often do not meet publicly, instead doing most of their work on bills in private.
- House votes are being held open long past their official time limits to allow the leadership to “twist arms” to get the vote results they want.
- Amendments proposed by Democratic members are killed by the House Rules Committee, often in late-night meetings.
On July 14, Common Cause participated in a Capitol Hill news conferencewith Reps. Martin Meehan (D-MA) and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), as well as several other reform groups, who called for reform of House rules to protect the minority.