Thread: Countdown to Transparency: Force Vote on 72 Hr. Online Rule!

Oregon Congressman Greg Walden was on FOX last night speaking of the the "We The People Can Read" action section at "Let Liberty Ring" to encourage Representatives who have not signed the Discharge Petition to bring H. Res. 554-which would require that all House bills be posted on the internet for 72 hours before being voted on--to a full House vote. Information on that site follows.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2009

Countdown to transparency: 46 signatures

Walden: ‘This is how you change Washington’

September 24, 2009 - WASHINGTON, DC - Just 46 more signatures from members of Congress are needed on a bipartisan petition to require a 72-hour public review period for bills before they’re voted on in the House of Representatives.

Right now, 172 members have signed the petition started yesterday by Reps. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Brian Baird (D-Wash.), John Culberson (R-Texas), and Walt Minnick (D-Idaho). A majority of House members—218—must sign the petition for a vote to be held on the 72-hour rule. Follow the progress of the petition by clicking here.

“This is how you change Washington,â€

From "Let Freedom Ring"

[Note": The site includes a list of all of the U.S. Representatives by state, indicating those who have already signed the Discharge Petition with a line through their names. Unfortunately, this will not reproduce: please go to the source for see if your Representative has signed the peition and to obtain their telephone number.]


WE THE PEOPLE CAN READ

HELP US GET CONGRESS TO POST ALL BILLS ONLINE 72 HOURS BEFORE VOTING!

This is a breakthrough project that can literally change the way that legislation passes through the US House of Representatives from now on. Similar to the second provision of our Responsible Health Care Reform Pledge, House Resolution 554 would amend the House Rules to require that all non-emergency legislation be posted on the Internet for 72 hours before it could be considered on the House floor.

This takes advantage of 21st century technology to empower ordinary citizens, as well as old and new media, bloggers, etc., in a way never before possible. If passed, it would raise transparency and accountability to new levels. It also captures some of the energy of this summer’s town halls and 9-12 rallies. It might have prevented the egregious AIG bonuses from being included in the Stimulus bill, as just one example.

However, H. Res. 554 is being bottled up by House leadership. Fortunately, there’s a way around this impasse. It’s called a Discharge Petition. If 218 House Members (a majority of the 435 Representatives) sign a Discharge Petition for House Resolution 554, the Resolution will be brought to the House floor for consideration.

Look at the list below. If your Member of Congress has not signed the Discharge Petition for H. Res. 554, please select your state and call the Member's District Office closest to your home, urging that he or she sign it as soon as possible.

Select your State:

Thank you for helping us make a difference by calling your Member of Congress. Here are some points that will help ensure your call is as valuable to our effort as possible.

Please remember to be kind and courteous while you are on the phone.


(Talking Points)

Please sign the Walden discharge petition to allow HR 554 to be voted on by the House of Representatives.

Allotting only 16 hours to review a 1428 page bill - like with the cap and trade bill - is simply impossible.

Too often, legislators vote on bills that they have not even had the time to read. This needs to stop.

To be able to practice my constitutional right to voice any concerns I may have, I need to have access to the legislation my Senators and Members of Congress will be voting on.

Thank you for your time, and please sign the Walden discharge petition to allow HR 554 to be voted on.


The names of members who have already signed the Discharge Petition are designated by green checkmarks and crossed-out names. If your Representative has signed, please call to express your appreciation. It means more than you might think.

Members whose names are in red are sponsors of the underlying House Resolution 554. Co-sponsors of H. Res 554 who have not yet signed the Discharge Petition are good candidates to do so if given enough encouragement. After you have determined what you need to do with respect to your own Representative, please start calling those in red who have not yet signed. Enter their state in the window above, then call or email them from the list of Members in that state, and so on.

http://www.letfreedomringusa.com/we_the_people_can_read

They have 181 signers and need 37 more.