Reply #6: House Dems filingDischarge Petition for an independent Katrina commission

[paineinthearse]

Breaking.

Live on CSPAN now, Rep. Louise Slaughter :yourock: D-NY, ranking member of House Rules Committee & Rep. Menendez (D-NJ).

A Discharge Petition starts a process to force a bill out of committee. A successful petition requires the signatures of 218 members, which is a majority of the House.
source - http://www.c-span.org/guide/congress/glossary/discharg.htm

This is due to the House-approved sham partisan commission.

Will post transcript ASAP.

Edit: add http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Resolution_Democrats_make_another_move_for_Katrina_0927.html

Resolution: Democrats make another move for Katrina commission

09/27/2005 @ 12:16 pm

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, was joined this morning by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, in announcing the creation of a discharge petition to force debate and a floor vote on the formation of a 9/11 style, independent commission to investigate the government's response to Katrina, RAW STORY has learned.

The resolution, introduced by Rep. Slaughter, follows. A move by by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) failed in the Senate.

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RESOLUTION

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R.3706) to establish a National Independent Inquiry Commission on Disaster Preparedness and Response to examine and evaluate the Federal Government's response to Hurricane Katrina and assess its ability to respond to future large-scale disasters.

Resolved, That immediately upon the adoption of this resolution the House shall without intervention of any point of order consider in the House the bill (H.R.3706) to establish a National Independent Inquiry Commission on Disaster Preparedness and Response to examine and evaluate the Federal Government's response to Hurricane Katrina and assess its ability to respond to future large-scale disasters. The bill shall be considered as read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate on the bill equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and (2) one motion to recommit.

WHAT IS A DISCHARGE PETITION?

Under House Rules, there is a procedure that allows an individual member to bypass the committee process and bring legislation directly to the House floor, thereby forcing a vote, if that legislation has the solid backing of a majority of the Members of the House.

Rules Ranking Member Louise Slaughter will introduce a rule today to discharge H.R. 3764, legislation to establish an Independent Commission on Hurricane Katrina. H.R. 3764 was blocked by the Republican controlled Rules Committee earlier this month. If successful, the discharge petition on this rule will guarantee a vote on H.R. 3764 on the House Floor. Under House Rules, there is a 30 legislative day waiting period before a petition can be filed and signatures can be collected. It is estimated that the Katrina Commission bill and Slaughter rule will be available to begin the discharge process the week of November 7th.

At that time, Rep. Slaughter will file a motion to discharge the Katrina Commission rule (referred to as a discharge petition) with the Clerk of the House and begin obtaining signatures from House Members who support a Floor vote on the creation of a Katrina Commission.

When the signatures of a majority of the House (exactly 218 unless the total quorum is less than 435 Members due to a vacancy) have been obtained, the Slaughter rule and H.R. 3764 will be brought to the House Floor for expedited consideration.