whereas the omnibus appropriations act of 2009 spent $19.1 billion more than the request of president bush. whereas the omnibus appropriations act of 2009 spends $19 billion more than simply extending the continuing resolution for fy 2009. whereas on april 1, 2009, the house considered house concurrent resolution 85, congressional democrats' budget proposal for fy 2010. whereas the congressional democrats' budget proposal for fy 2010, house concurrent resolution 85 proposes the sixth highest annual deficits in u.s. history. whereas the congressional democrats' budget proposal for fy 2010, house concurrent resolution 85, proposes to increase the national debt to $17.1 trillion over five years, $5.3 trillion more than compared to the level of january 20, 2009.

whereas congressional republicans produced an alternative budget proposal for fy 2010, which spends $4.8 trillion less than the congressional democrats' budget over 10 years. whereas the republican study committee proposed an alternative budget proposal for fy 2010 which improves the budget outlook in every single year, balances the budget by fy 2019 and cuts the national debt by more than $6 trillion compared to the president's budget. . whereas on april 29, 2009, attempting to respond to public criticism the president convened the first cabinet meeting of his first administration and challenged his cabinet to cut a collective $100 million in the next 90 days. whereas the challenge to cut a collective $100 million represents just one in 40,000 of the federal budget. whereas on june 16, 2009, total outstanding troubled asset relief program, or tarp funds,

to banks stood at $197.6 billion. whereas on june 16, 2009, total tarp outstanding funds to a.i.g. stood at $69.8 billion. whereas on june 16, 2009, total outstanding tarp funds to domestic automotive manufacturers and their finance units stood at $80 billion. whereas on june 19, 2009, the outstanding public debt of the united states was $11.09 trillion. whereas on june 19, 2009, each citizens' share of the outstanding public debt of the united states came to $37.236.88. whereas according to a "new york times"/cbs news survey 3/5 of americans, 60%, do not think the president has developed a clear plan for dealing with the current budget deficit.

whereas the best means to develop a clear plan for dealing with runaway federal spending is a commitment to fiscal restraint in an open and transparent appropriations process in the house of representatives. whereas before assuming control of the house of representatives in january, 2007, congressional democrats were committed to an open and transparent appropriations process. whereas according to a document by congressional democrats entitled "democratic declaration on its leadership and open government" page 2 states, our goal is to restore accountability, honesty and openness at all levels of government. whereas according to a document by congressional democrats entitled "a new direction for america," page 29 states, bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full and fair debate consisting of a full amendment process that grants the minority the right to offer its alternatives, including a

substitute. whereas on november 21, 2006, the "san francisco chronicle" reported, speaker pelosi pledged to restore minority rights, including the right of republicans to offer amendments to bills on the floor, the principles of civility and respect for minority participation in this house is something that we promised the american people, she said, it's the right thing to do, the "san francisco chronicle" november 21, 2006. whereas, on december 6, 2006, speaker pelosi stated, we promised the american people we would have the most honest and open government and we will. whereas on december 17, 2006, "the washington post" reported, after a decade of bitter partisanship that has all but crippled efforts to deal with major national problems, pelosi's determined to try to return the house to what it was in the earlier era which --

where you debated ideas and listened to each other's arguments. "the washington post," december 17, 2006. whereas on december 5, 2006, minority leader -- majority leader steny hoyer stated, we intend to have a rules committee that gives opposition voices and alternative proposals the ability to be heard and considered on the floor of the house. congress daily p.m. december 6, 2006. whereas during debate in the congressional record on page h-4410, chairwoman louise m. slaughter of the rules committee stated, if we want to foster democracy in this body we should take the time and thoughtfulness to debate all major legislation under an open rule, not just appropriation bills, which are already restricted. an open process should be the norm and not the exception. whereas since january, 2007, there has been a failure to commit to an open and transparent process in the

house of representatives. whereas more bills were considered under closed rules, 64 total in the 110th congress under democratic control than in the previous congress, 49 under republican control. whereas fewer bills were considered under open rules, 10 total in the 110th congress under democratic control than in the previous congress, 22 under republican control. whereas fewer amendments were allowed per bill, 7.68 in the 110th congress under democratic control than in the previous congress, 9.22 under republican control. whereas the failure to commit to an open and transparent process in order to develop a clear plan for dealing with runaway federal spending reached its pinnacle in the house's handling of h.r. 2847, the commerce, justice, science and related agencies appropriations act of 2010. whereas h.r. 2847, the commerce, justice, science and

related agencies appropriations act of 2010 contained $64.4 billion in discretionary spending, $11.-- 11.6% than enacted in 2009. whereas on june 11, 2009, the house rules committee issued an announcement stating that amendments for h.r. 2847, the commerce, justice, science and related agencies appropriations act 2010 must be preprinted in the congressional record by the close of business on june 15, 2009. whereas both republicans and democrats filed 127 amendments in the congressional record for consideration on the house floor. whereas on june 15, 2009, the house rules committee reported house resolution 544, a rule with preprinting requirement and unlimited pro forma amendments for purposes of debate. whereas on june 16, 2009, the house proceeded with one hour of general debate or one minute

to vet each $1.7 billion in h.r. 2847 in the committee of the whole. whereas after one hour of general debate, the house proceeded with amendment debate. whereas after just 22 minutes of amendment debate or one minute to vet each $3.02 billion in h.r. 2847, a motion that the committee rise was offered by congressional democrats. whereas the house agreed on the motion that the committee rise by a recorded vote of 179 ayes and 124 noes with all votes in the affirmative being cast by democrats. whereas afterwards the house rules committee convened a special untelevised meeting to dispense with further amendments on h.r. 2847. whereas on june 17, 2009, the house rules committee reported house resolution 552, a new and restrictive structured rule for

h.r. 2847, the commerce, justice, science and related agencies appropriations act 2010. whereas every house republican and 27 house democrats voted against agreeing on h.res. 552. whereas house resolution 552 made in order just 23 amendments with a possibility for 10 more amendments out of the 127 amendments originally filed. whereas house resolution 552 severely curtailed pro forma amendments for purposes of debate. whereas the actions of congressional democrats to curtail debate and the number of amendments offered to h.r. 2847, the commerce, justice, science and related agencies appropriations act 2010 effectively ended the process to deal with runaway federal spending in a positive and responsible manner. and whereas the actions taken have resulted in an indignity being visited upon the house of

representatives. now, therefore, be it resolved that, one, the house of representatives recommit itself to fiscal restraint and develop a clear plan for dealing with runaway federal spending. two, the house of representatives return to its best traditions of an open and transparent appropriations process without a preprinting requirement. and three, the house rules committee shall report out open rules for all general appropriation bills throughout the remainder of the 111th congress. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. members and staff in conversations will remove them from the floor. members and staff will take seats. does the gentleman from georgia wish to present argument on why the resolution is privileged for immediate consideration? mr. price: i do, madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman may proceed. mr. price: madam speaker, questions of privilege of the house come to the floor by

virtue of rule 9 of the rules of the house of representatives which states in part, questions of privilege shall be, first, those affecting the rights of the house collectively, its safety, dignity and the integrity of its proceedings. integrity of its proceedings, madam speaker. the commerce, science, justice appropriations bill that was outlined in the resolution that has just been read clearly the actions taken by the democrats in charge clearly have disenfranchised every single member of this house, limiting their ability to effectively represent their constituents. madam speaker, these actions, these actions by the democrats in charge have violated, i believe, and i believe that the members of the house would concur, violated the integrity of our proceedings and, therefore, i believe this resolution constitutes a privileged resolution. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair is prepared to rule.

in evaluating the resolution offered by the gentleman from georgia under the standards of rule 9, the chair is mindful of the principle that a question of the privileges of the house may not be invoked to prescribe a special order of business for the house. prior rulings of the chair in that regard are an tated in section 706 of the house rules and manual. the resolution offered by the gentleman from georgia proposes a special order of business by directing the committee on rules to report a certain kind of resolution. and for that reason does not represent -- i'm sorry -- does not present a question of the privileges of the house. mr. price: madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from georgia. mr. price: i appeal the ruling of the chair. >> madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the question is shall the decision of the chair stand as the adjustment of the house? for what purpose does the gentleman from washington rise? >> i move to lay the appeal on the table. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on the motion to table. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. the gentleman from georgia. mr. price: madam speaker, i

request the yeas and nays.