READTHEBILL.ORG VIEWS
In January 2007, ReadtheBill.org respectfully requests that members of Congress do the following:

(1) Cosponsor the "72 hours online rule" reform resolution expected to be re-introduced in early 2007 by Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA)..
The top legislative priority for ReadtheBill.org is to get cosponsors for this resolution. During the previous, 109th Congress, this reform was H.Res. 688 and it attracted 36 cosponsors, including 34 Democrats.

Urge your Representative to cosponsor H.Res.688

Is your member a cosponsor?

The top legislative priority for ReadtheBill.org is to get more cosponsors for H.Res. 688. Authored by Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), it was introduced Feb. 16, 2006 and has attracted a bipartisan group of more than 25 cosponsors.

H.Res.688 would establish the 72 Online rule. This resolution would require posting legislation and conference reports on the Internet for 72 hours before floor consideration.

H.Res.688 would amend the standing rules of the House to update and strengthen the existing three-day rule in the House and close various loopholes. It would replace the obsolete, unenforceable, routinely-waived three-day rule it with the modern, tough, endorceable 72 Online rule. Unlike the three-day rule, the 72 Online rule would apply even in the final week of a congressional session, when the worst abuses occur.

Summary of Provisions (HTML) -- MS Word version
Full text of the resolution and other info (on the Library of Congress Thomas system)
Standing Rules of the House of Representatives (What H.Res.688 amends -- see rules 13 & 22 only)

Official list of cosponsors (on the Library of Congress Thomas system)
Opponents of passage of H.Res.688

Arguments for H.Res.688
Arguments against H.Res.688 (and ReadtheBill's counterarguments)

Tell your Representative to cosponsor (Action page)

H.Res.688 – Arguments in favor

THE PROBLEM: Congress will not read the bills
The world's oldest democracy is endangered when lawmakers frequently do not read proposed laws before they make them. The facts are well known: Congress routinely rubber stamps huge mystery bills in the middle of the night, clueless of their content or cost. Generally, the more important a bill is, the less likely it will be read. This hurts Americans in several ways:

Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) has introduced a resolution to implement the 72 Online rule:

ReadtheBill.org: Pass Baird's Resolution by Election Day (press release)

H. Res. 688 -- Summary of Provisions

H.Res.688 -- SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS
Introduced by Rep. Brian Baird on Feb. 16, 2006
Establishes the “72 Online” rule in House rules
Full text of resolution

TITLE
“To require that legislation and conference reports be available on the Internet for 72 hours before consideration by the House, and for other purposes.“