[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 10, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H7962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H7962]]
   SUSPENSION BILLS: MAJOR POLICY DECISIONS BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THE 
                             MAJORITY PARTY

  (Mr. BURGESS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I came to the floor of the House this 
morning to talk about energy. But I just want to say a word about what 
was just discussed.
  We have had major policy decisions in health care come to the floor 
of this House, not through my Subcommittee on Health in Energy and 
Commerce, not through the full Committee on Energy and Commerce. No. It 
comes directly from the Speaker's Office to the floor of the House. It 
comes up under suspension because who wants to vote against health? Who 
wants to vote against doctors?
  But the reality is major changes in public policy are going on with 
no discussion in committee, no ability to amend or improve a bill on 
the floor of the House, no ability to offer an alternative before we 
vote because they are brought up under suspension.
  This is wrong and this is indicative of the type of leadership that 
this House has had for the last 20 months. This is what the American 
people say they want changed. When they talk about change, they're 
talking about change from the top, and it's high time it happened.

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