Single-subject bill reform needed
by David Atkins
I've mentioned before that it's likely more useful to look at specific rules reform than it is to inveigh against specific politicians. Among the needed reforms I've mentioned are an end to gerrymandered congressional districts, dysfunctional filibuster rules, corrupt lobbying and campaign finance laws, electoral college rules, and many others besides.
Add single-subject bills to the list. This dates back to 2011:
Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) introduced a Resolution today along with Jared Polis (CO-02), Cory Gardner (CO-04), and Scott Tipton (CO-03) aimed at limiting all bills to a single subject. Lamborn and Polis introduced similar legislation in the last Congress. The Resolution would ensure that Congress does not pass bills that contain unrelated amendments and items cobbled together. Members of Congress do this many times to avoid hearings on important policy. This practice also has the effect of adding spending costs to bills, thus driving up the budget deficit. The so-called “Single-Subject” rule is already a rule of both Chambers of the Colorado General Assembly.
“This Resolution would ensure that all House bills are transparent. This means lawmakers must put forward bills that address a single issue, not this cobbling together of unrelated items. If something is important enough to warrant legislative action, it deserves to be fully and openly debated and voted on, not shoved into an unrelated bill and pushed through without a separate hearing. The people of Colorado, and the nation as a whole, deserve transparency in what laws are being passed by their elected representatives.” - Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)
"One of the most frustrating things I face in representing the people of Colorado in Congress is voting on enormous "Christmas tree" bills with unrelated measures, some of which I support, some of which I oppose. The Colorado legislature gets their work done in a straight forward and transparent way thanks to the "single-subject rule" which requires each bill have a single legislative intent that is clearly described in its title. It's time to apply some Colorado common sense to Washington, DC.” - Congressman Jared Polis (CO-02)
Some will immediately complain that Congress is sclerotic and slow-moving enough without forcing it to move even more slowly, and that allowing unrelated items to appear in the same bill allows for better dealmaking.
But we have already seen time and again awful provisions such as huge corporate giveaways included with necessary packages, as well as a range of "gotcha" amendments added to terrible legislation to secure wavering votes from politicians who know better.
While the current ugly system of sausage-making might benefit progressive priorities on occasion, it largely serves to benefit those who are seeking to sneak or force through unpopular legislation. That's bad for democracy no matter who benefits. And since conservative policy polls overwhelmingly worse than progressive policy, there's simply no reason for progressives to put up with nonsensical mix-and-match legislation expressly designed to sneak through corporate gifts and conservative policy alongside otherwise popular initiatives.
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