[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18310]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        SILENCING AMERICAN VOICES IN THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS

  (Mr. BROUN of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as we enter the fourth week of the 
appropriations process, I stand before you once again, angry and 
frustrated that the Democratic leaders continue to silence the voices 
of the American people by refusing to allow this body to debate 
legislation in an open and transparent way. As the American people know 
by now, Democratic leaders have limited the time of debate and the 
number of amendments to spending bills that the minority could bring 
up. This is an unprecedented practice that has not been done by either 
Republican or Democratic majorities in recent memory.
  Mr. Speaker, this is completely outrageous. The opposition party and 
the American people deserve an opportunity to examine and criticize the 
majority's policies, and then we deserve the opportunity to offer 
alternatives when we disagree.
  But what Speaker Pelosi is doing now not only goes against the 
practices of this House; it also goes against everything she promised 
the American people when Democrats took control of the House in 2006. 
Mr. Speaker, this Congress is passing nonstimulus stimulus packages, 
cap-and-trade boondoggles, and now we're silencing the voices of the 
American people.
  I ask, when is enough enough? It has to change.

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