Nunes on Democratic-controlled Congress
To suggest that Congress has accomplished something during the past two years is problematic at best. In fact, none of the major reforms promised by the new majority have become law.
America was told by the new majority that they would bring a new era of open government to Congress. However, Speaker Pelosi has presided over the most bitter and partisan Congress in modern history. The Speaker has taken control of the legislative process in an unprecedented manner and actually controls the drafting of legislation. In fact, at no time in our nation’s history have so many Congressional committees ceded their jurisdiction to House leadership as we have witnessed in these past two years.
Since the first days of this Congressional session, committees have been forced to accept legislation without hearings, markups or debate. Proposals have arrived on the House floor with little notice and with no review by Members of Congress. In fact, the Rules Committee, which is controlled by the Speaker, has used its authority to waive all of the rules created by the House to ensure public debate and transparency and replaced them with marshal law rules that not only limit debate but prevent consideration of alternatives or amendments.
In short, the biggest accomplishment of this Congress has been the consolidation of power by the Speaker and her leadership team. The erosion of this democratic institution into one dominated and controlled by a handful of political leaders has resulted in the lowest public approval rating of Congress in history. President Bush enjoys twice the approval rating of Congress, and for good reason. The change that was promised was not delivered.
Congress: biggest mistake
Congress has made a lot of mistakes in the past two years. It is difficult to identify a single error that stands out from the others. However, I believe that one mistake that has implications far beyond Washington directly relates to our national security. To date, Congress has failed to pass FISA legislation.
We have operated for 89 days without the necessary legal authority to allow our intelligence officials to quickly react to terrorist threats. The Director of National Intelligence has said that every day we deny our intelligence officials access to surveillance against suspected terrorists, we will incur compounding damage in our ability to protect the United States.
By failing to pass FISA legislation, Congress has partially blinded the people who we have charged with protecting us. In doing so, they have sided with trial lawyers who believe that foreign terrorists and their supporters should have the same legal standing as American citizens in our courts. Congressional leaders want a judicial process to govern each attempt to monitor a terrorist, and they want civil liberty protections for these killers.
Rather than empowering the FBI, DHS and other law enforcement agencies, Congressional leaders have sought to recreate a system that prior to 9/11 helped to shield terrorists plotting attacks against America. The 9/11 Commission cited the need for speed and quick decision making as an essential component of tracking and monitoring terrorists around the world. By placing legal burdens on the people who are responsible for protecting us, Congress is making it easier for our enemies to inflict destruction on the American people.