Walz, McCollum want proposed legislation posted online

Representatives Tim Walz and Betty McCollum urged support this week for a resolution requiring Congress to post proposed legislation online, in a letter sent to House leadership.

The resolution would prohibit the House from considering legislation that has not been made publicly available on the Internet for at least 72 hours.

Representatives Brian Baird of Washington and John Culberson of Texas proposed the resolution in June. The proposal has 176 co-sponsors, including Reps. Walz, Erik Paulsen, Michele Bachmann, and John Kline.

"Members of Congress are too often asked to make decisions on bills that can be longer than telephone books and are only given a few hours to actually read them. That is simply wrong," Baird said in a statement. "People should have a chance to read what is in legislation before it becomes law, not after."

Walz and McCollum were among twenty-three lawmakers who signed the letter backing the proposal. The letter was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

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