Rep. Thomas Massie Flags House Rule Changes Undermining Legislative Transparency
U.S. Representative Thomas Massie has raised concerns over recent changes in House procedures that bypass key transparency rules. Normally, the House requires bills to be publicly available 72 hours before a vote, but this rule was ignored via a "manager’s amendment" that drastically changed a bill late at night after it passed the Rules Committee.
Massie also criticized the suspension of a one-day waiting period after amendments, allowing the final bill text to be released just minutes before debate and a vote. He echoed Elon Musk’s observation that many lawmakers didn’t know the bill’s contents until it was passed, a sentiment shared by other representatives.
These moves risk undermining transparency and public trust in the legislative process, highlighting the need to uphold procedural safeguards for informed decision-making.