McCarthy Signed 19 Discharge Petitions

In Defying the Odds, we discuss state and congressional politics as well as the presidential race. 

House GOP leaders oppose a discharge petition to consider immigration bills.

"I don't believe in discharge petitions," House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy,  (R-CA) said on Wednesday. "You're turning the floor over. I think it's better to use the legislative process."

In the minority, however, McCarthy signed 19 discharge petitions.

1. H.Res. 554, 111th Congress, require bills & reports on Internet, signature #54.
2. H.Res. 847, 111th Congress, health legislation transparency, signature #82
3. HR 391, 111th Congress, greenhouse gases, signature #113
4. HR2294, 11th Congress, Gitmo, signature #158
5. HR3105,111th Congrees, Central Valley Project, signature #2
6. HR4972,111th Congress, Obamacare repeal, signature #144
7. HR5141, 111th Congress, corporate reporting, signature #134
8. H.Res. 220 to consider HR 511, 110th Congress, support for military, signature #157
9. H.Res. 559 to consider H.Res. 479, 110th Congress, House rules, signature #15
10. H.Res.694 to consider HR2905, 110th Congress, Fairness Doctrine, signature #25
11. H.Res. 1331 to consider HR1399, 110th Congress, DC gun rights, signature #7
12. HR5424, 111th Congress, Obamacare repeal, signature #4
13. HR3089, 110th Congress, energy, signature #147
14. HR2208, 110th Congress, coal-to-liquid projects, signature #112
15. HR2279, 110th Congress, refining on military facilities, signature #133
16. HR3089, 110th Congress, energy, signature #147
17. HR4088, 110th Congress, immigration, signature #140
18. HR5440, 110th Congress, FISA, signature #16
19. HR 5656, 110th Congress, alternative fuels, signature #108

On January 15, 2010, McCarthy wrote of the H.Res. 847 petition:

In the health care reform debate, there continues to be a divide among Democrats. Both House and Senate Democrats continue to meet in secret to negotiate the final version of the bill. When then Senator Obama was campaigning, he promised Americans transparency. Instead, all Americans have seen are closed door deals.  My colleagues and I are fighting back.  We want the transparency America was promised.  We are asking all members of Congress to sign a discharge petition (needing 218 signatures) forcing a vote on a bipartisan resolution requiring the health care reform negotiations be open to the public and media.