After Congress adjourned for the August recess, the Washington Post editorialized that the Democratic House majority was falling into the same habit as the previous Republican majority: not allowing "adequate time for members to digest complex legislation."

For the 110th Congress, the House Democratic Blue Dog Coalition has a 12-Point Plan for Budget Reform" that includes the following:
"9. Ensure that Congress reads the bills it’s voting on."

The full plan follows:

The Blue Dog Coalition's
12-Point Plan for Budget Reform

1. Require a balanced budget.

2. Don’t let Congress buy on credit.

3. Put a lid on spending.

4. Require agencies to put their fiscal houses in order.

5. Make Congress tell taxpayers how much they’re spending.

The following representative is among the cosponsors of H.Res.688:

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), PAC Chair

To see other members of the New Democrat Coalition that have cosponsored H.Res. 688, click here for a list of all cosponsors on the Library of Congress Thomas system.

The sponsor of H.Res.688 is Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), also a member of the New Democrat Coalition.

Note: The above does not imply any endorsement by the New Democrat Coalition or other Coalition memb

The following representatives are among the cosponsors of H.Res.688:

Members of the House Democratic leadership:

Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) -- Deputy Whip
Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) -- Co-Chair, Democratic Steering and Policy Committee
Rep. John B. Larson (D-CT) -- Vice-Chair, Democratic Caucus

Other:
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) -- Chairman, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Note: ReadtheBill.org is a non-partisan organization philosophically independent of the two major political parties. Party or political information on this page is presented in order to demonstrate support from various political perspectives.

The following representatives are among the cosponsors of H.Res.688:

Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN)-- Co-Chair, Blue Dog Coalition
Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) -- Co-Chair, Blue Dog Coalition

To see other members of the Blue Dog Coalition that have cosponsored H.Res. 688, click here for a list of all cosponsors on the Library of Congress Thomas system.

Note: The above does not imply any endorsement by the Blue Dog Coalition or other Coalition members.

House Democrats introduced two major lobbying and congressional reform packages on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2006. Each contains identical language on making bills available to members for 24 hours, or three days if a bill contains earmarks. While the bills embody other worthy reforms, ReadtheBill.org believes that the identical text on making bills available is too weak. Most importantly, neither bill requires posting bills online.

Jefferson's "Manual" (1812) begins with this admonition on the importance of the rules in parliamentary government:

"SEC. I: THE IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO RULES.

"MR. ONSLOW, the ablest among the Speakers of the House of Commons, used to say, 'it was a maxim he had often heard, when he was a young man, from old and experienced members, that nothing tended more to throw power into the hands of administration and those who acted with the majority of the House of Commons, than a neglect of, or departure from, the rules of proceeding: that these forms, as instituted by our ancestors, operated as a check and control on the actions of the majority; and that they were in many instances, a shelter and protection to the minority, against the attempts of power.' So far the maxim is certainly true, and is founded in good sense, that as it is always in the power of the majority, by their numbers, to stop any improper measures proposed on the part of their opponents, the only weapons by which the minority can defend themselves against similar attempts from those in power, are the forms and rules of proceeding which have been adopted as they were found necessary from time to time, and are become the law of the House; by a strict adherence to which, the weaker party can only be protected from those irregularities and abuses which these forms were intended to check, and which the wantonness of power is but too often apt to suggest to large and successful majorities. 2 Hats. 171, 172."

Marshall's post from late 2004 is undecided. But he points out that this issue raises the question of whether Democrats can "start acting like a true opposition party."