[tabcdyop]

the “Read the Bills Act (RTBA).” RTBA requires that . . .

* Each bill, and every amendment, must be read in its entirety before a quorum in both the House and Senate.

* Every member of the House and Senate must sign a sworn affidavit, under penalty of perjury, that he or she has attentively either personally read, or heard read, the complete bill to be voted on.

* Every old law coming up for renewal under the sunset provisions must also be read according to the same rules that apply to new bills.

* Every bill to be voted on must be published on the Internet at least 7 days before a vote, and Congress must give public notice of the date when a vote will be held on that bill.

* Passage of a bill that does not abide by these provisions will render the measure null and void, and establish grounds for the law to be challenged in court.

* Congress cannot waive these requirements. http://www.downsizedc.org/read_the_laws.shtml


This seems like a truly inspired idea to me. Forcing legislators to read llegislation should result in much more easily understood bills and the 7 day internet examination period would make last minute tricks harder to pull off.

[Lolita Palmer]

http://www.downsizedc.org/read_the_laws.shtml


This seems like a truly inspired idea to me. Forcing legislators to read llegislation should result in much more easily understood bills and the 7 day internet examination period would make last minute tricks harder to pull off.

It is hard to believe some of these criteria are not already in place.

The internet idea is great as well. Even if voters don't bother to look at it, the media will, and the issues will be broadcast to the public that way.

[Rememavotscam]

Hopefully some of the Congressmen will read the RTBA.

[Everwondopedo]

Hopefully some of the Congressmen will read the RTBA.

Hopefully they won't. It's the only way it'll get passed.

[jackie Obrian]

Good, it'll put the damn politicans under the spot-light and all that they vote on. Ideally, that would mean less pork if its simple enough that it isn't lawyer talk (Ya know, because most politicans are ex-lawyers), but only if the people hold their politicans accountable and thats under question (I'm somewhat sceptical of what "the people" care about if anything). America has become too big and complex to let the beauracrats run away with it because the people can't understand what the hell is going on. Hold them accountable, and kick them out. We can't compromise on the values of America, and shouldn't allow it.

[Twelearly]

http://www.downsizedc.org/read_the_laws.shtml


This seems like a truly inspired idea to me. Forcing legislators to read llegislation should result in much more easily understood bills and the 7 day internet examination period would make last minute tricks harder to pull off.

I agree, unfortunitely it would not work without other substancial changes to the way congress works. The bil would never get to the floor without ammendments and additions (pork) like connecting it to a school bill, or a downsizing of the milirary, or the subsidizing of a new bridge for Alaska. It would be necassary to make some of the following changes to get it passed. (Most specifically the provisions of the last paragraph)

*****************************

(adapted from an earlier thread.) Certain extensive RULE changes would be required in the every day operation of the House and Senate, which would include that of the State assemblies as well.

(1) The Senate would have an elected leader and assistant thereto and the House and legislations would each have an elected Speaker and assistant speaker. Each would be elected from the body of that entity. and as is presently the case, would be expected to be from the then majority party,

(2) Each entity would have it's sub-commities, as is presently the case. However,

(3) No leader or full committee may decline to allow a measure to come to the floor on it's own whim, as has been the situation in the past. The originator would have the right to announce the measure on the floor, and receive at least a vote by acclaim. then if there is still a legitimate dispute as to the right to have it discussed , The originator would have to right to call for a rollcall vote. Note, because of reasonable concern for his or her future interests, that person would not be likely to call fo such a vote, unless he or she thought they had been wronged.

Futher, such votes by acclaim must be valid. with no "all ayes/allnays/the ayes have it"? votes which took all of ten seconds,and as was an all too frequent scenario when Newt Gindrich and especially Tip O'neal were in charge.

Lastly and most importantly. Bills must be introduced separately or at least in appropriate combinations IE A school bill could not be combined with, or amended by a weapons bill, with each issue standing on it's own. In the past, not having such a requirement was the reason much of the pork spending had been passed, and many ammended bills were allowed to get thru to be certain the major issue was passed.

[intendepods]

It is hard to believe some of these criteria are not already in place.

The internet idea is great as well. Even if voters don't bother to look at it, the media will, and the issues will be broadcast to the public that way.

It is a great idea.

That's why it is already being done.

Check out house.gov and senate.gov, and you can read and track legislation before either body.

Matt

[nuveem7070]

It is a great idea.

That's why it is already being done.

Check out house.gov and senate.gov, and you can read and track legislation before either body.

Matt

Doh!

I didn't even know.

Thanks Matt

[LindaSmithIV]

My bad - the actual bill search site is http://thomas.loc.gov/

The Library of Congress tracks and publishes the legislation info.

Matt

[BV6lwvXf]

The Congressional Record link is pretty cool - you can read a summary of what each chamber did the previous day, with the written remarks and inclusions into the record included.

Matt

[TriamiCaw]

It is a great idea.

That's why it is already being done.

Check out house.gov and senate.gov, and you can read and track legislation before either body.

Matt

You can visit those sites and see the legislation but changes are sometimes made and the legislation passed in less time than it takes to post those changes.

[Garry Richardson]

Just heard about a link for the "lay" person to read the bills.

http://www.readthebill.org/index.php

I found it cleaner and easier to understand.

[luffyplayaz]

http://www.downsizedc.org/read_the_laws.shtml


This seems like a truly inspired idea to me. Forcing legislators to read llegislation should result in much more easily understood bills and the 7 day internet examination period would make last minute tricks harder to pull off.

This is close.

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