Senate Minority Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today accused Democrats of using parliamentary procedure to disenfranchise millions of Americans during the 110th Congress and pressed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to let Republicans have more input on legislation in 2009.
“Too often in the previous Congress, legislation bypassed the committee process and was considered with no input from Republican Senators,” McConnell wrote today in a letter to Reid that was co-signed by each of the 42 Republican senators.
“Further, when those bills were considered on the floor and there were no opportunities for Republican Senators to offer any amendments, millions of our constituents from many states were denied the right to be heard,” McConnell wrote.
McConnell called for a more open legislative process that would allow GOP senators to offer amendments to legislation–something Reid has largely prevented in the past two years.
“As a caucus, Republicans will insist on our basic right to participate in the legislative process,” McConnell wrote.
Reid has repeatedly offered legislation on the Senate floor without sending it through committees–a prerogative he holds as majority leader. He has also filled the “amendment tree” on several key pieces of legislation, offering his own amendments to prevent Republicans from offering theirs, then calling for a vote once the maximum number of amendments has been offered.
In the past year, Republicans have complained that Medicare legislation and the “21st Century G.I. Bill” were passed without their input.
See the full text of the letter below:
Dear Senator Reid:
As we begin our work together in the 111th Congress, Republican Senators are united in our support for the Senate