Replies

"Committee Democrats complained that the Republican majority had not given them enough time to review a substitute bill that they had received shortly before midnight Thursday."

I expect Republicans to hold to a higher standard than Democrats. If they really used this kind of tactic of giving them something with only 8 hours to review, then they are as bad as the Democrats.

I'm ok with them changing the house rules to end filibusters of judges. But if they are really railroading legislation through without allowing the minority party time to review that's just wrong.

I absolutely agree with you. I am disappointed that so many here appear to favor dirty, underhanded tricks and railroading. Maybe Thomas was technically within the rules (and I don't know whether he was or not) when he said the document submitted the previous night just before midnight was enough technical notice. But by that same token, the Democrats were within their rights to a full reading of it, even if that reading had to happen line-by-line in committee. We should ALL be in favor of our lawmakers actually READING the legislation they pass!

And the gavel trick is just absurd. You have to give people the chance to object, or else you are no better than a dictator. Thomas was completely out-of-line.

All Thomas had to do was give another day, and this whole mess would have been avoided, with the exact same result. Instead, his impatience and temper created an unnecessary incident that makes him and the Republican majority look bad among fair-minded people.

PS: And of course, Stark is an idiot for his outburst, too. But that doesn't excuse Thomas.