Members of Congress keep making the case for DownsizeDC!
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The rules require an out-loud reading of the bill. However, bill readings are almost always waived. Then, at the end of June, the Democrats blocked the GOP attempt to waive the reading rule.
Of course, the Democrats wanted to slow down the passage of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill.
That's what Downsize DC has ALWAYS wanted. Normally, Democrats would have accused us of mere obstruction.
Of course, the Republicans accused the Democrats of obstruction this time.
Yet, this is ironic because the GOP employed the same tactic in 2021. But here's what's really interesting...
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The Democrats offered a second reason for slowing the process. They wanted more time to rally public support against the bill.
That is one of the arguments we've made for our Read the Bills Act.
Last week, everywhere I looked, politicians were responding to the case for Downsize DC's bills.
There were explanations for why they had to cluster so many unrelated things into the Big Beautiful Bill. Again and again, I saw politicians admit that they combined measures to buy extra votes. I even did a podcast about Vice President J.D. Vance saying the quiet parts out loud.
This tells us something powerful. The Big Beautiful Bill could not have passed if our One Subject at a Time Act (OSTA) and/or our Read the Bills Act (RTBA) were in effect.
MAGA apologists argued that the Trump tax cuts would not have been renewed, and the new Trump tax cuts would not have been enacted.
NONSENSE!
Republicans, who control Congress, weren't going to vote for a tax increase or against tax cuts. Instead, the tax cuts were used as leverage to cram more spending into the bill. Our Downsize DC bills would have prevented that.
But it wasn't just the politicians talking about single-subject bills that were short enough to read.
Lindsey Sparks, an author of paranormal mysteries, posted a mystery on Threads that is so bizarre it might also qualify as paranormal. She wrote...
Dear US Congress,
Please pass a law requiring all bills to be single-issue.
Thanks in advance,
Every single American citizen
(seriously, why is this not already a thing)
It seemed like everyone was making the case for Downsize DC.
Most rank-and-file members of Congress likely want OSTA. They would probably submit to RTBA too, after OSTA was passed, because then the bills would be short enough to read. OSTA and RTBA would protect them from passing stuff they and their constituents oppose. They wouldn't have to go home and make excuses.
Our words. Our arguments. More than ever, politicians are making the case for Downsize DC's agenda, or they're being compelled to respond to it.
Either way, this represents real impact and notable progress. So, please stick with us…
If you haven't yet signed up to support the One Subject at a Time Act, please do so. And if you have signed up already, please contribute or start a monthly pledge.
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If you haven't yet signed up to support the One Subject at a Time Act, please do so. Click the button above. And if you have signed up already, please contribute or start a monthly pledge.
Set your own agenda,
Jim Babka, President
Agenda Setters by Downsize DC
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