GOP Abuse of Power, Report by House Democrats Alleges (washingtonpost.com): "Pelosi, a liberal who has few weapons besides rhetoric to use against the conservatives who control Congress, described the forthcoming report as documenting 'devastating details of the profound abuse of power that characterizes House Republicans after 10 years in the majority.'
'While this Republican administration has spoken strongly about promoting democracy around the world, the House Republican leadership is working feverishly to undermine democracy here at home,' she said in a statement to be released with the report.
Pelosi said the leaders 'ram bills through committees without full discussion, permit few if any floor amendments, and if need be, hold open floor votes until enough arms have been twisted to ensure passage.' In November 2003, the House leadership kept a roll call going for two hours and 51 minutes -- more than double the previous record -- until they could round up enough votes to pass President Bush's Medicare revision and prescription drug bill. "