“I expect that you know what you’re voting on” says Pelosi, addressing Congress January 2005. She insists on using the “3-day rule” which is intended to alleviate earmarks by allowing members of Congress enough time to read the legislation they are voting on. She also criticizes long legislation with ulterior motives, which her bill is amply accused of.
Recently, however, she has proven to be the one practicing the methods she was warning Congress about nearly five years ago. House Speaker Pelosi has successfully campaigned for and passed a nearly 2,000 page healthcare reform bill with all kinds of sneaky legislation written in; the exact practice she condemned years ago before her fellow members. She also failed to post her healthcare reform bill online 72-hours before the vote.
In December 2003 she said (reiterating another House Member’s comment in agreement): “if you have to twist people’s arms over and over to vote for you on issue after issue, then you would be wise to reevaluate your positions.” Interesting, considering (6 years later) that she’s the first one to come to mind regarding congress members persuading and lobbying one another. A practice some regard as modern horse-trading.
[...] FY bill being used to enforce gun legislation, a dishonest practice she condemned a year prior (video). The bill did [...]