An Open House or Not? Boehner Explains

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NYTimes.com:

Like the Democrats did before him, Speaker John A. Boehner has promised to run a much more open House and to give the Democratic minority plenty of room to offer amendments on the floor.

But that always seems easier in the abstract. Democrats and plenty of other people are quickly noting that on the first big bill Mr. Boehner is bringing to the floor – the repeal of the health care law – he is not allowing Democrats any amendments.

The speaker had an explanation for that Thursday.

“I promised a more open process,” Mr. Boehner told reporters. “I didn’t promise that every single bill was going to be an open bill.”

Republicans say the repeal is straightforward and was a main theme of the midterm campaigns and doesn’t need to be argued again on the floor. But Democrats would no doubt like to offer amendments that would maintain the most popular elements of the law – insurance companies cannot refuse people coverage for pre-existing conditions for example – and such amendments could make for tough votes for Republicans.

Mr. Boehner also said the proper committees were not even constituted yet so it would not even be possible for Republicans to have the kinds of hearings they clamored for when Democrats were writing the health care bill.

“And we want to begin action,” Mr. Boehner said. “So I believe that it’s fair.”

The new Democratic majority got off to a similar start in 2007. After promising to be more open to the minority than the previous Republican majority had been to them, Democrats forced through legislation they had campaigned on without giving Republicans much involvement.