"Regardless of party, we all cast our votes with one hand and crossed our fingers with the other." U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri (D), on passage of the most expensive budget in U.S. History.
The above utterance is the sad result of the latest Democratic-leadership-tactic in "ruling" as the majority party: to deny your elected representatives the right to read legislation BEFORE it is voted on. The result is tantamount to committing legislative negligence. This political stunt prevents Members from being able to effectively represent their constituents and prevents constituents from being able to hold Members accountable for votes cast. Simply put, the practice undermines democracy.
IFL's Pledge to Read is simple. It a pledge from our elected leaders - the very people sworn by the Constitution of the United States to honestly represent the People. It states that a "YES" vote from a Member of Congress is an acknowledgment by that Member that he/she has read the legislation in question and agrees to be held accountable for its contents. It is the bare minimum we should expect from our leaders on Capitol Hill.
Trillions of tax dollars are at stake. Let your Leadership and your Members of Congress know today that anything less then comprehension of legislation and acceptance of accountability on the part of elected representatives is unacceptable.
Tell your Congressman and Senators to sign IFL's Pledge to Read today.