House takes up Transportation-HUD bill
Republicans blamed Democrats for limiting the number of amendments that can be offered to the measure.
The House began debate Thursday on the fiscal 2011 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill, after approving the rule for the measure, 231-185.
Republicans blamed Democrats for limiting the number of amendments that can be offered to the measure -- a move they contend is not common for spending bills and hurts minority's ability to change the legislation and represent their constituents.
Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a longtime opponent of earmarks, sought to offer 12 amendments but was only allowed to offer four under the rule. He said the closed rule amounts to "slamming the door on the legislative process."
In response, Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-N.Y., said that if Republicans did not like the rule, they could vote against it.
Under the rule, up to 24 amendments are expected to be considered, including a proposal from House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, to cut $40 million from HUD's Transformation Initiative, which funds efforts to teach communities that receive HUD funds how to use them.
"If it costs $40 million just to teach them how to spend the money, maybe the money shouldn't be spent in the first place," Boehner said in a release. "Why should our kids and grandkids be forced to fund programs like this with little justification?"