Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is pushing for a House vote on a resolution to require a 72-hour review period to read legislation before it is brought to the House floor for a vote. Simpson, who is one of 98 cosponsors of the resolution, has signed a discharge petition that would force House leadership to bring it to the House floor for consideration.

“There is no doubt that rushed legislation results in poor laws,” said Simpson. “When we bypass the committee process or bring legislation to the floor that we have not had an opportunity to thoroughly vet, we make mistakes that cost the American taxpayers time and money.  We must put an end to the practice of posting a bill in the dead of night and then bringing it to the floor only hours later. Members of Congress, staff, and the American people all deserve time to review bills before a vote is requested.”

This bipartisan resolution, H.Res. 554, amends House rules in order to guarantee that all Members of Congress and the American public can easily access, via the Internet, complete legislation and conference reports at least 72 hours before they are considered on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays unless the House is in session on such a day.

Normally, each measure introduced in the House cannot receive floor consideration until leadership places it on the schedule.  The “discharge rule” allows a measure that is supported by a majority of House Members to come before the House, in spite of the unwillingness of majority leadership to schedule it.  In order to force H.Res. 554 to the floor, 218 Members must sign the discharge petition that is being held by the House Clerk.

“This is not a new concept, it is one that we’ve been advocating for years,” said Simpson. “Americans deserve to know what their representatives are voting on and how new laws will impact their lives. They are demanding more transparency, and it is our responsibility to deliver.”