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** One Subject Trending on X!
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Two years ago, a band of congressional Republicans conditioned their support for electing Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker on his agreement to a "single subject" rule ([link removed]) .
At the same time (January 2023), they also took our One Subject at a Time Act, added a couple of things of immediate concern to them, and introduced it as HR 91 ([link removed]) : One Bill, One Subject Transparency Act.
The negotiated rule with Speaker McCarthy was a strong step forward. But it carried little weight because it did not have the force of law. After all, the House frequently suspends its rules when it passes bills. The single subject rule has become virtually meaningless under Speaker Mike Johnson.
Congress can do better, and…
Some members are trying. Last month, Rep. Thomas Massie posted on X ([link removed]) :
This isn’t complicated.
Separate the bills and vote on them individually.
one vote on the clean CR
one vote on the debt limit
one vote on disaster relief
one vote on farm bailouts
Radical right? Individual bills for each issue.
** One Subject Trending on X
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Massie's post was about a "Christmas tree" bill ([link removed]) that clustered several unrelated items into one bill. That bill was defeated, but another bill attaching the CR (Continuing Resolution to finance the federal government) combined with hurricane relief did pass.
Massie's post received 168,000 likes and 37,000 reposts. The term House deficit hawks now use, "Single subject," started trending on X! In their reposts…
* Senator Mike Lee (UT) called Massie's comments "revolutionary ([link removed]) ." 37,000 likes.
* X owner Elon Musk called it a "great idea ([link removed]) ." 225,000 likes.
* Other congressional representatives and popular activists tweeted too!
** Massie's post continues to be pertinent
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Recent congressional negotiations ([link removed]) included an attempt to attach relief for the tragic Los Angeles fires to a bill to raise the debt ceiling.
Why would the members of Congress go along with this?
* They could tell their constituents "I'm helping!" without scrutinizing where and how the money for fire relief is spent.
* They can pretend they saved the United States from "default" by raising the debt ceiling even though interest on the national debt equates to $4,632 per American per year.
* They could say they didn't like the fire relief bill, but the debt limit increase was a "must pass" bill, or vice versa. They masquerade as statesmen when they roll unrelated bills into one, but you are the one who pays.
** We're on to something!
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Frustration with how Congress "works" impelled Massie and several other Representatives to promote a version of the One Subject at a Time Act.
And we're about to give you even more good news because…
It's a new Congress, and OSTA must be re-introduced… and passed!
This is where you step in…
TODAY is the perfect day to set the agenda ([link removed]) , join the 300 ([link removed]) , and build momentum to force Congress to introduce and pass the One Subject at a Time Act (OSTA) – or Single Subject or whatever they prefer to call it.
Under OSTA…
* Congressional leaders will no longer be able to pass unpopular proposals by clustering them with sure-to-pass measures.
* Bills will become shorter and easier to read.
* Government growth will slow.
As the tweets by Massie, Lee, and Musk demonstrate, hundreds of thousands already agree that bills should have just one subject. Countless millions more would have liked these posts if they had seen them.
We know you agree. Spread the word about the One Subject at a Time Act and how WE can get it passed.
One Subject At A Time ([link removed])
IMPORTANT NOTE: Congress hasn't updated its digital roster, so neither have we. When you receive your confirmation email, worry not about the names listed. If you're in the right state and district, that's what matters. The incumbent names will be updated in due time.
Please also contribute or start a monthly pledge ([link removed]) .
Set your own agenda,
Jim Babka, President
Agenda Setters by Downsize DC
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** Today's Action: One Subject at a Time Act ([link removed])
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