GOP lawmaker gets ‘goose bumps’ during budget debate

Reading bills aloud on the House floor is typically a routine and monotonous process. But Rep. Rob Woodall (R-Ga.) was moved on Tuesday at the start of debate on the budget.

Woodall, a member of both the House Budget and Rules committees, didn’t contain his excitement for the two days of debate ahead on the GOP budget resolution for fiscal 2016 and six budget alternatives.

“I was looking around to see if folks were getting goose bumps as the reading clerk was reading the rule. I was, and I think if folks were honest with themselves, they’d be getting goose bumps too,” Woodall said.

The House first has to approve a “rule” establishing parameters for floor debate on the budget.

{mosads}The rule allots four hours of general debate and votes on six budgets offered by the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, House Democrats and the Republican Study Committee, as well as the original House GOP budget and a modified version with enhanced defense spending. 

Woodall noted that members don’t always have the opportunity to vote on amendments.

“Because we don’t always have the most open of processes around here. It’s hard,” Woodall said. “It’s not easy to craft a process that allows every member of this institution to have a voice.”

Woodall further appeared to relish the unpredictability of this year’s budget debate. House GOP leaders are bringing the budget up under an obscure rule stipulating that whichever budget accrues the most votes wins. It’s unclear whether it will be the original resolution reported out of the House Budget Committee last week or the version with extra funding for defense.

“I don’t know where the votes are going to shake out. And I am excited to find out,” Woodall said.

“So often you come to the House floor, it’s been pre-scripted. The votes have been counted, the process has been closed. It’s just more of a show-up-and-vote to give it some finality. But not so today,” Woodall added.

“I don’t know which budget’s going to pass at the end of the day. But I know this: I know America will be the better for us having a process that includes absolutely every voice in this chamber.”

Final votes on the budget are expected Wednesday afternoon.