Score One For the House Minority

As Michelle Malkin reports, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats in the House of Representatives revealed that they were going to attempt to rewrite House rules that has stood for 185 years (I believe Thomas Jefferson co-authored these rules).

These rule changes would have effectively shut down the minority (i.e. Republican) party's right to the Motion to Recommit or the test of germaneness on the motion to recommit. Also, it would have allowed for tax increases without votes.

This came after 11 straight successful motions to recommit by the Republicans.

So, the Democrats want to both eliminate accountability for tax increases...and shut down the Republican party's ability to challenge bills on the House floor.

Compare these actions with the words of the Speaker of the House and the House Majority Leader...

“[W]e promised the American people that we would have the most honest and most open government and we will.” - Nancy Pelosi, December 6, 2006.

So Pelosi's idea of "honest and open" includes shutting down opposition and raising taxes without a vote.

“We intend to have a Rules Committee ... that gives opposition voices and alternative proposals the ability to be heard and considered on the floor of the House.” - Steny Hoyer, December 5, 2006.

Will someone explain to me how shutting down a minority party's ability to challenge and debate a bill "gives opposition voice and alternative proposals the ability to be heard"?

Good to see some solidarity and unity amongst the GOP.