Paul Ryan vowed an end to the much-despised top-down approach of his predecessor when he took the speaker’s gavel in 2015, promising a House that’s “more open, more inclusive, more deliberative, more participatory.”

“We're not going to bottle up the process so much and predetermine the outcome of everything around here,” he said in his first news conference as speaker.

But two years later, the House Rules Committee, which is controlled by the speaker, just set a record for the most closed rules in a session — barring lawmakers for the 49th time from offering amendments on a bill.

Ryan has yet to allow a single piece of legislation to be governed by an open rule, which allows members to propose changes on the floor.

That makes Ryan the only speaker in modern history to forgo the open process entirely so far, according to senior House Democratic sources. They argue such a strategy — while politically expedient for Republicans eager to avoid toxic and divisive votes — is bad for democracy because it stifles debate.

Politico wrote:[Senior House Democratic sources] argue such a strategy — while politically expedient for Republicans eager to avoid toxic and divisive votes — is bad for democracy because it stifles debate.

Grotewold wrote:

Politico wrote:[Senior House Democratic sources] argue such a strategy — while politically expedient for Republicans eager to avoid toxic and divisive votes — is bad for democracy because it stifles debate.

does that really need attribution?

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) wrote:If that's true, then he wouldn't belong in the Senate

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) wrote:The allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore are deeply troubling. If these allegations are found to be true, Roy Moore must drop out of the Alabama special Senate election."

CalvinBall wrote:whatever happened to the one dude who slammed the reporter to the ground?

JUburton wrote:he's still gonna be a US senator, lol!

slugsrbad wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:whatever happened to the one dude who slammed the reporter to the ground?

He's serving proudly in the House of Representatives.

slugsrbad wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:whatever happened to the one dude who slammed the reporter to the ground?

He's serving proudly in the House of Representatives.

slugsrbad wrote:Also, of note, Breitbart put out a preemptive article attacking the victim and the Washington Post.

pacino wrote:

slugsrbad wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:whatever happened to the one dude who slammed the reporter to the ground?

He's serving proudly in the House of Representatives.

never held up his end of the bargain to give Jacobs an interview, either

CalvinBall wrote:

pacino wrote:

slugsrbad wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:whatever happened to the one dude who slammed the reporter to the ground?

He's serving proudly in the House of Representatives.

never held up his end of the bargain to give Jacobs an interview, either

did he just get fined? let off the hook for assault?

CalvinBall wrote:

pacino wrote:

slugsrbad wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:whatever happened to the one dude who slammed the reporter to the ground?

He's serving proudly in the House of Representatives.

never held up his end of the bargain to give Jacobs an interview, either

did he just get fined? let off the hook for assault?

On June 12, 2017, Gianforte pleaded guilty and was originally sentenced to four days in jail, to be completed in part through a work program. But he was ineligible for the work program due to the assault conviction. The judge then switched the sentence to 40 hours of community service, 20 hours of anger management, 180-day deferred sentence, and a $300 fine along with an $85 court fee.[5][6]

During the court hearing Jacobs said that he hoped to interview Gianforte in the future, as he was trying to do at the time of the assault. Gianforte said in court to Jacobs "I'm sorry, and if and when you're ready, I look forward to sitting down with you in DC". However, Gianforte later refused Jacobs an on-the-record interview.[56] Gianforte also tried to avoid having an official photograph ("mugshot") taken until compelled by court order. The Guardian reported in October that the mugshot had been released publicly by a judge's order, and added "The congressman has reneged on a courtroom offer to sit down with Jacobs for an interview."[57]

Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) wrote:If these allegations are true, he must step aside.