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OPPOSE THE DISCHARGE PETITION
PROCESS

 

discharge petition is away that the membership ofthis go around a Speaker. 

Democratic Rep. Jared Polis, 3/26/14
Dear Colleague:

On Monday, the House is expected to consider a Discharge Petition that will force us to
vote on a controversial topic one that three separate whip counts showed a majority of
Republicans on the Financial Services Committee opposed bringing up for a vote. We are
unaware of any chairman Republican or Democrat who ever moved a bill in committee that a
majority of the majority did not want to consider. An offer to host a special meeting of our
Conference to try to settle this issue, regrettably, was denied. So today we?re respectfully asking
you no matter what your position on the Export-Import Bank may be to vote no on the
Discharge Petition.

First, Discharge Petitions are a tool designed to be used exclusively by the minority.
They give Democrats control over the agenda, which is why they so eagerly signed this one and
even held a ?victory? press conference afterward.

Second, those among us who rightfully call for regular order need to realize Discharge
Petitions are the opposite of regular order. They bypass the committees, including the Rules
Committee, and they bypass our conference. In the case of the Discharge Petition ?led on BX-
lm, zero amendments are allowed. It could have been written in a way to allow for members to
offer amendments, but instead this Discharge Petition was purposefully crafted to deny members
the right to offer amendments.

We certainly respect our Republican colleagues, regardless of their stance on this one
issue, and regret that at a time when our Conference has already been divided that this Discharge
Petition has divided us further. But this isn?t about us, nor is it about the Financial Services

Committee or the Rules Committee. It?s about whether we support Regular Order or not. It?s
about whether members should have the prerogative to offer amendments or not. Ultimately, it?s
about whether a minority of our Conference will find common cause with Democrats whenever
we have an internal disagreement, use this uncommon, extreme Discharge Petition process, and
force a vote when a majority of the majority does not want a vote.

It is always a dif?cult matter when Republicans don?t see eye-to-eye on an issue. But the
strength of our Conference is that we commit to work together, as a team, to resolve our
differences ourselves and resist the temptation to resort to gimmicks or strange bedfellows.
Doing so ensures that we have the support of a majority of the majority on any vote we choose to
hold. And on the issues where it is tough to bridge our differences, we can and we should hold a
special Conference meeting where all Members can participate and have their views heard, so
that we can, in regular order, forge the path forward.

ream;

EB NSARLIN PETE SESSIONS
Chairman, Committee on Financial Services Chairman, Committee on Rules

ReSpectfully yours,