House adopts budget timeout rule

The House has taken a small step towards more transparency with the passage of its rules this morning. According to HR 4610: "Rule 12. (A) BUDGET BILLS. No final passage vote may be taken on an operating budget, transportation budget, or capital budget bill until twenty-four (24) hours after the bill is placed on the third reading calendar. The twenty-four (24) hour requirement does not apply to conference reports, which are governed by Joint Rule 24, or to bills placed on the third reading calendar by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present . . . READ MORE