Criticism unfair

Editor, Gettysburg Times,

The writer of a recent “Reporter’s Notebook” piece unfairly criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for not allowing members during an August 31 meeting of the House to recite the names of U.S. servicemembers recently killed in Afghanistan. On that day the House was meeting in a strictly pro forma session that had previously been agreed to by both parties through a unanimous consent agreement, meaning each and every member of the House implicitly agreed to the rules and terms of that pro forma session.

The rules for pro forma sessions of the House do not permit any speeches, statements, motions or amendments to be offered. The House meets, hears a prayer from the Chaplain, recites the Pledge of Allegiance, and then quickly adjourns as a mere formality for parliamentary procedural purposes during extended recesses. Those are the rules of the House and have long been the rules under both Democratic and Republican majorities. Members of the House who attempted to seek recognition for the purpose of making a statement or reading of names surely knew this fact about pro forma sessions. This stunt was in fact a cheap shot intended solely to embarrass the Speaker.

Inquiring reporters without a particular axe to grind, such as impugning Democratic support for our military, would have learned this with no difficulty. Unlike this Reporter’s Notebook item, responsible media reports have pointed out the actual reason for these members not being recognized to speak that day and exposed the political gamesmanship involved.

I am sure that Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic majority will continue to provide ample opportunity, as provided for under House rules, through daily one-minute speech periods and “Special Order” speeches of up to one hour for members. Members will be free to engage in whatever speechifying and grandstanding they desire when the House resumes its regular sessions. Of course, House members will also be bound by other longstanding bipartisan rules of the House prohibiting the questioning of members’ motivations and requiring a level of personal decorum. Sounds like good advice for those in the media to follow as well.

William Gilmartin,

Orrtanna