House Democrats line up for 'special order' speeches

[LauraK]

Taking a page from the opposition play book, Democratic lawmakers fed up with their minority status are airing their grievances in hour-long, made-for-television speeches that often keep the House of Representatives active late into the night. ..

"The Republicans constantly limit our ability to speak, to offer amendments, to offer substitutes," said Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., communications chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee. "As a minority, it's very important to have special orders. For many of us, it's the only opportunity we have to talk for five minutes or longer."

Special orders are speeches of five to 60 minutes on any topic. While lawmakers often devote shorter speeches to bits of constituent service - honoring a Michigan song-writing team, remembering New Hampshire's "Old Man of the Mountain" - hour- long special orders are frequently the forum for impassioned battles over national and world issues.

More here

[goobergunch]

1. Like Hoeffel and Delahunt's "Iraq Watch" (n/t)

[Johnyawl]

2. This is good

This is the very same platform that Gingrich used to launch his rise to power, when the Dems had the majority.