Providing for Consideration of Motions to Suspend the Rules

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES -- (House of Representatives - September 08, 2005)

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule. Twenty minutes per side is not enough to argue a catastrophe of this size. The rule does not allow any amendments from our side. A number of Democratic districts have been affected, those of the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor), the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Davis), and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), as well as myself. We do not have an opportunity for input into what relief opportunities we can give in our districts.

This is not right. If this is a democracy, we ought to have an opportunity to participate in providing for the relief of our particular districts.

The Republican side has taken a position that Democratic input is not needed. This is not the way to go. This is a democracy. We need a rule that allows for the maximum input from both sides.

I am sorry to say that even in this time of devastation, our Republican colleagues have decided that America should not pull together and work for the common good. Unfortunately, the people of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana are the ones who will suffer because of this lack of total input from Members of Congress.

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