We hear a lot these days about the imminent demise of our democracy.
Well, look no further than the House of Representatives in Olympia for evidence of this trend.
For the past 132 years a procedural rule in the House has required a â…” majority vote to end debate on bills under consideration on the House floor.
The Democrat-majority House has ditched this rule, opting instead for political expediency.
Since January of this year, floor debate can be ended with a simple majority vote.
This new rule has the effect of silencing dissent and consigning alternative viewpoints and potential legislative improvements, unseen and unheard, to the trash bin.
Understand that the Democrats have a majority in the House, thus any bill they favor will very likely pass, regardless of whether each and every member has their say or not.
This is not about doing away with the filibuster or making the legislative process more efficient; it is about stifling alternative viewpoints, and everyone should be concerned about that.
Jon Purnell
Port Angeles