It is a good rule of thumb that bill names in the United States Congress are misleading. A prominent example of that is the USA PATRIOT Act that, instead of supporting the freedom for which American patriots have fought, provides to the US government extensive means to infringe on that freedom.
On Thursday, though, House of Representatives members were offered in an amendment vote the opportunity to replace one such misleading bill name with a name that informs the American people what the bill is really about. Forty-seven House members voted for the change.
The vote came during consideration of the Bipartisan Budget Act (HR 3877). While a budget brings to mind making tough decisions so spending fits within the confines of the ability to pay, here the vote was about removing fiscal restraints so spending can proceed without limit.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) offered on the House floor an amendment to rename the Bipartisan Budget Act. Massie’s amendment would rename the bill as A Bill to Kick the Can Down the Road, and for Other Purposes. Massie’s amendment did not pass, but it did receive 47 votes and help educate people not to judge this bill or other bills by their titles.
Massie is an Advisory Board member for the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity.
