McCarthy aims to fix a broken House

To the Editor:

The Republicans’ speaker balloting was a response to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s top-down legislative control where bills bypassed the committee process and Republicans were rarely allowed input. The Republicans wanted to return to regular order as set up in the original House rules.

New Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy’s dissenters were upset about spiraling inflation, deficit spending and the left’s insanity. They proposed moving power from the speaker’s office back to committees and members where it belongs. They wanted the appropriations committee to set budget parameters and timeline to pass 12 separate appropriation bills that fund government, set policy, expand oversight and develop a debt-ceiling strategy.

Also, they proposed a supermajority for tax increases and spending offsets for new programs from the current budget.

The recent passage of the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill was an example frequently referenced by the dissenters. The bill was 4,000 pages of inflationary spending, jammed through by Pelosi in the middle of the night. The bill had 7,000 earmarks, no committee review, amendments, debate or opportunity to be read. It was written behind closed doors and designed to fill the pockets of Democrats and their causes.

Congress’s approval rating has been dismal. Republican dissenters want to restore confidence and openness by stopping Pelosi’s complete control process. These reforms will allow debate and transparency in the House. Voters have had enough of out-of-control government.

McCarthy’s success will be measured by restoring credibility and more responsive legislative policies aided by these reforms.

Frank Mazur

South Burlington