Republican Leader Wants Democrats to Announce Roll Call on Pro-Abortion Bill
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 19, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — If pro-abortion Democrats are going to make the House of Representatives vote on a health care bill that is the biggest expansion of abortion since Roe, House Republican Leader John Boehner says they should be prepared to announce their votes to Americans one at a time.
To keep abortion advocates accountable, Boehner today sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The letter requests that the final health care votes be recorded by “call of the roll” so that every lawmaker is required to publicly announce their vote on the House floor.
“This weekend’s votes will be among the most consequential votes we will ever cast as Members of Congress,” Boehner says in the letter to Speaker Pelosi. “As such, it is my belief that every Member should stand before the American people and announce his or her vote as the final decision is made.”
According to House rules, “Unless the Speaker directs otherwise, the Clerk shall conduct a record vote or quorum call by electronic device."
"The Speaker may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call by call of the roll. In such a case the Clerk shall call the names of Members, alphabetically by surname," the rule say.
That puts the ball squarely in Pelosi’s corner on whether to acquiesce to Boehner’s request or not. Pelosi is unlikely to do so — especially if the vote remains as close as political observers expect it to be on Sunday, because she may need last-minute arm-twisting during an open voting process to squeeze out the last vote or two.
The full text of Boehner’s letter follows:
March 19, 2010
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Office of the Speaker
H232 Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Pelosi:
It appears the House of Representatives will proceed with plans to vote this weekend on President Obama’s health care legislation, despite the well-documented objections of the American people to both the contents of the bill and the manner in which the Democratic leadership hopes to pass it.
This weekend’s votes will be among the most consequential votes we will ever cast as Members of Congress. As such, it is my belief that every Member should stand before the American people and announce his or her vote as the final decision is made.
With this in mind, I request that you use your discretion under the Rules of the House of Representatives, Clause 2 and 3 of House Rule XX, to conduct the record vote by call of the roll for both adoption of the Senate health care bill (i.e. the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3590, as passed on Christmas Eve this past year) and for the rule making that bill in order.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
John Boehner
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