Bill would make bills single-minded

Sen. Rand Paul would like to end the practice of piggybacking legislation.

You've seen it countless times: A member of Congress attaches an unrelated measure to a bill, hoping to pass something with marginal support by tying it to something sure to pass.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wants to  put an end to that. Paul introduced the One Subject at a Time Act (S. 3359) June 28, intended to keep legislation on point.

The bill has three provisions:

  • Each bill shall embrace no more than one subject.
  • The subject of a bill shall be clearly and descriptively expressed in the title.
  • An appropriations bill shall not contain any general legislation or change of existing law provision, unless the provision deals with expenditures of money.

If the bill contains more than one subject, and the subjects are not germane to each other, the bill is void.

Paul's bill was sent for further consideration to only one committee: The Committee on Rules and Administration.