WEBCAST: Rep. Thompson Supports Historic Changes to House Rules

Within the first two days of Congress, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) voted for sweeping and historic changes to the rules that govern the House of Representatives. The rules package, which passed by an overwhelming majority, will help restore ethics, civility and fiscal responsibility to the halls of Congress.

“Americans made it clear last November that they were fed up with the previous Majority's questionable ethics, dishonesty and partisan politics,” said Thompson. “Today, we made it clear that we'll do what it takes to make this an institution the American people can put their trust and faith in.”

During the debate over the rules package, Thompson took to the House floor, calling on his colleagues to reinstate pay-as-you-go budgeting. The pay-as-you-go amendment to the rules package ensures that the House will not consider any bill that increases the federal deficit.

“Congress expects America's families to set a budget and to pay their bills, and Congress should be held to that same standard,” said Thompson. “This rule takes the first step towards restoring fiscal responsibility in the federal government by requiring the House of Representatives to pay for the bills that we pass.”

Pay-as-you-go budgeting was used by the House throughout the 1990s, but was allowed to expire in 2002. As a result, federal deficits and debt have reached historic levels; the federal government currently has a $296 billion deficit and our national debt is nearly $9 trillion.

“Our children and grandchildren are going to be paying for the irresponsible spending of the past five years,” said Thompson. “I am proud to be a Member of a Majority that will restore fiscal sanity to Washington.”

In addition to a pay-as-you-go requirement, the rules package includes several ethics provisions, including banning gifts from lobbyists, banning travel paid for by lobbyists, prohibiting members from using corporate planes and requiring all House staff to attend ethics training. The package also prohibits the Speaker of the House from holding votes open in order to affect the outcome and requires that members of the Minority party are given enough time to review legislation before having to vote on it. Click here to hear Congressman Thompson's floor speech. Time codes: CSPAN 1/12/07 11:59:40 - 12:01:22