Overview
Title
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require the Clerk to read the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate of any bill immediately after the reading of the title of the bill.
ELI5 AI
This bill says when someone in the House of Representatives reads out the name of a new law they're thinking about, they also have to tell everyone how much it might cost. This way, all the people making decisions know what the money side looks like right away.
Summary AI
H. RES. 952 proposes a change to the Rules of the House of Representatives. The resolution requires the Clerk of the House to read the estimated cost of any bill, as determined by the Congressional Budget Office, right after the bill's title is read aloud. This amendment is intended to ensure that lawmakers are immediately informed about the financial impact of proposed legislation. The bill was introduced by Mr. Burchett, along with Mr. Norman and Mr. Crenshaw, and referred to the Committee on Rules.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
H. RES. 952 is a legislative proposal intended to amend the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. Specifically, it mandates that after the title of a bill is read aloud, the Clerk of the House must also read the estimated cost of the bill, as determined by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This procedure aims to provide legislators and the public with immediate cost information about proposed legislation.
Summary of Significant Issues
One notable issue with the resolution is its lack of specificity regarding the next steps if a bill's cost is deemed high or detrimental. The amendment merely requires the reading of the cost estimate without outlining how this information should influence further legislative actions or decisions. This could lead to ambiguity and potentially limit accountability in how such financial data is addressed.
Another concern is the potential for increased time consumption in legislative sessions. The requirement to read the entire cost estimate for each bill could significantly slow down the legislative process, particularly for bills accompanied by lengthy or complex financial reports.
Additionally, the amendment fails to specify whether supplementary information should accompany these cost estimates. Details on the potential economic or social impacts of a bill could provide essential context for legislators, helping them understand the broader implications of the proposed legislation.
Impact on the Public
This resolution could have mixed implications for the public. On one hand, having the cost of bills read aloud increases transparency in the legislative process. It ensures that elected representatives and the public are immediately informed about the financial implications of proposed legislation, which is crucial for accountability and informed decision-making.
On the other hand, the potential delays in legislative proceedings brought about by these readings could slow down the process of enacting important legislation. This could lead to frustration among the public, especially if crucial bills are held up due to procedural requirements.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For legislators, this resolution could add a layer of complexity to their decision-making processes. While immediate access to cost estimates might aid in making more informed choices, it could also necessitate additional discussions and debates, slowing down the legislative work pace.
For the Congressional Budget Office, the demand for timely and comprehensive cost estimates may increase, potentially requiring additional resources or staff to meet the heightened needs of the legislative process.
Clerks of the House, entrusted with reading these estimates, might face challenges related to the increased time and accuracy demands of this task, particularly for bills with intricate fiscal analyses.
In summary, the resolution seeks to enhance transparency and fiscal responsibility in the legislative process. However, its lack of detail regarding the use of cost information and potential procedural delays are significant considerations.
Issues
The amendment does not specify actions required if the cost of a bill is deemed high or detrimental, leaving ambiguity and potentially reducing accountability in how cost information should be addressed (Section (l)).
The requirement for the Clerk to read the estimated cost of a bill could add significant time to the legislative process, potentially causing delays, especially for lengthy or complex estimate reports (Section (l)).
The amendment lacks clarity on whether the cost estimates read should include supplementary information such as potential economic or social impacts, which could provide crucial context for legislators and the public (Section (l)).
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
(l) Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The House of Representatives amended their rules to require that, after the title of a bill is read, the Clerk must also read its estimated cost as calculated by the Congressional Budget Office.