Republicans Go "Out of Bounds" on the House Floor to Hide the Truth

Republicans Go "Out of Bounds" on the House Floor to Hide the Truth
April 14, 2005

Rep. Maloney's routine request to insert material into the record on the bankruptcy bill causes floor fight
Maloney was submitting letters from women's groups showing the bankruptcy bill is anti-family values

WASHINGTON, DC - The House Republican pattern of dictatorial rule continued today when they vigorously fought the normally routine act of submitting material for the Congressional Record on the House floor. During debate on the Bankruptcy Bill (S. 256), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) spoke about her amendment that would have put child support payments ahead of credit card debt payments after individuals declare bankruptcy. She requested unanimous consent to submit for the record letters from bankruptcy professionals and women's groups supporting her position.
Such requests are routine, but the Republicans, breaking with House tradition, began a nasty House fight in opposition to Maloney's request. The objection was upheld, but eventually, the request was re-submitted and the material was added to the record.

"The Republicans went out of bounds in their conduct because the truth hurts," said Maloney. "If they were so worried about being perceived as anti-family values, they should have never introduced a bill that puts kids last. Every day, the People's House devolves further into a dictatorship of the majority, where routine actions by the Democrats become forbidden. We need to restore democracy to Congress."

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

"The bill forces child support claimants to compete against credit card companies for limited post-petition assets," said Maloney. "This shows where the majority really stands on family values. Of course a debtor should pay his child support ahead of his credit cards. But they won't even allow information in the Congressional Record that tells the truth."

http://www.house.gov/maloney/press/109th/20050414Bankruptcy.htm