H. RES. 5 / Goodlatte Amendment
ETA: 1/5:
The Goodlatte amendment was pulled, due to constituent pressure. YOU did this.
However, H. Res. 5 was passed, with Ryan's rules in place. It's worth calling your rep and letting them know you oppose the passage. If they're a Dem, encourage them to continue standing up to Ryan, etc.
However, H. Res. 5 was passed, with Ryan's rules in place. It's worth calling your rep and letting them know you oppose the passage. If they're a Dem, encourage them to continue standing up to Ryan, etc.
The facts:
On Paul Ryan's attempts to end live streaming via H.Res. 5:
* Back in June, the Democrats staged a sit-in over gun control. Paul Ryan ordered the cameras turned off for both the House stream and the C-Span stream.
* The Democrats fought back by streaming from both Facebook Live and Periscope.
* The so-called disorderly conduct irked Paul Ryan, so he's introduced amendments in House Resolution 5 stating that:
* The Democrats fought back by streaming from both Facebook Live and Periscope.
* The so-called disorderly conduct irked Paul Ryan, so he's introduced amendments in House Resolution 5 stating that:
* Fines are supposed to be imposed on an incremental scale.
* However, this was deemed to likely be unconstitutional, so the GOP met on 1/2, to add a rule stating that members can "appeal" the fines.
* HOWEVER, this meeting also led to the Goodlatte rule.
* However, this was deemed to likely be unconstitutional, so the GOP met on 1/2, to add a rule stating that members can "appeal" the fines.
* HOWEVER, this meeting also led to the Goodlatte rule.
The Goodlatte Amendment:
* The Goodlatte Amendment was also introduced during conference.
* In a nutshell, the Goodlatte Amendment would fold the Office of Congressional Ethics - which currently exists as a independent, non-partisan entity, into the Ethics Committee, which is currently led by partisan members, and chaired by a member of the GOP.
* The Office of Congressional Ethics was formed in 2008, in response to the Abramoff and Foley scandals. Folding it into the Ethics Committee would make sure it had LESS power.
* In a nutshell, the Goodlatte Amendment would fold the Office of Congressional Ethics - which currently exists as a independent, non-partisan entity, into the Ethics Committee, which is currently led by partisan members, and chaired by a member of the GOP.
* The Office of Congressional Ethics was formed in 2008, in response to the Abramoff and Foley scandals. Folding it into the Ethics Committee would make sure it had LESS power.
What you can do:
* Call and email your reps.
* Ask them to vote against the rules package, unless the amendements re: streaming and the Goodlatte rule are removed.
Please note:
* Please call YOUR reps. Do not call Goodlatte's office. The only exception to this, is if you live in the District of Columbia, and do not have a rep.
* Do not tweet, do not Facebook message. Or if you do, make sure you ALSO call your reps. Tweets and Facebook will do nothing.
* Ask them to vote against the rules package, unless the amendements re: streaming and the Goodlatte rule are removed.
Please note:
* Please call YOUR reps. Do not call Goodlatte's office. The only exception to this, is if you live in the District of Columbia, and do not have a rep.
* Do not tweet, do not Facebook message. Or if you do, make sure you ALSO call your reps. Tweets and Facebook will do nothing.
Call script:
You: "Hello, my name is [insert]. I'm calling from [location, zip code. BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS.} I am an active voter.
You: I am calling to urge [insert rep name] to vote against HR 5 today, particularly the Goodlatte amendement.
You: We need transparency in government, and it is the right of the people to see what our representatives are doing on the House floor. Fines against any House members who try to bring transparency to the political process, go against the core values of our democracy. While I understand that the GOP has determined that our reps will have the option to appeal the fines, that still goes against the point of transparency in Democracy.
You: I am also calling to ask that [insert rep name] denounce the Goodlatte amendment. The Office of Congressional Ethics was established specifically to address the inability to cover ethics, in the wake of the Abramoff and Foley scandals.
You: Having them folded under the umbrella of the Ethics Committee would counter the OCE's ability to act in a matter befitting the American people.
You: Thank you, and have a good day.
You: I am calling to urge [insert rep name] to vote against HR 5 today, particularly the Goodlatte amendement.
You: We need transparency in government, and it is the right of the people to see what our representatives are doing on the House floor. Fines against any House members who try to bring transparency to the political process, go against the core values of our democracy. While I understand that the GOP has determined that our reps will have the option to appeal the fines, that still goes against the point of transparency in Democracy.
You: I am also calling to ask that [insert rep name] denounce the Goodlatte amendment. The Office of Congressional Ethics was established specifically to address the inability to cover ethics, in the wake of the Abramoff and Foley scandals.
You: Having them folded under the umbrella of the Ethics Committee would counter the OCE's ability to act in a matter befitting the American people.
You: Thank you, and have a good day.
Email:
Date
Name
Address
Address
Dear [insert House Rep name]:
My name is [insert]. I am a constituent and an active voter. I am writing to ask that you vote against HR 5 today.
We need transparency in government, and it is the right of the people to see what our representatives are doing on the House floor. Fines against any House members who try to bring transparency to the political process, go against the core values of our democracy. While I understand that the GOP has determined that our reps will have the option to appeal the fines, even that option still goes against the point of transparency in Democracy.
Similarly, I am asking for [insert rep name] to actively denounce the Goodlatte amendment. The Office of Congressional Ethics was established specifically to address the inability to cover ethics, in the wake of the Abramoff and Foley scandals. Having them folded under the umbrella of the Ethics Committee would counter the OCE's ability to act in a matter befitting the American people.
Warmest regards,
[name]
[address]
Name
Address
Address
Dear [insert House Rep name]:
My name is [insert]. I am a constituent and an active voter. I am writing to ask that you vote against HR 5 today.
We need transparency in government, and it is the right of the people to see what our representatives are doing on the House floor. Fines against any House members who try to bring transparency to the political process, go against the core values of our democracy. While I understand that the GOP has determined that our reps will have the option to appeal the fines, even that option still goes against the point of transparency in Democracy.
Similarly, I am asking for [insert rep name] to actively denounce the Goodlatte amendment. The Office of Congressional Ethics was established specifically to address the inability to cover ethics, in the wake of the Abramoff and Foley scandals. Having them folded under the umbrella of the Ethics Committee would counter the OCE's ability to act in a matter befitting the American people.
Warmest regards,
[name]
[address]