PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.Res.272 / 111th Congress

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to strike rule XXVIII, popularly known as the "Gephardt rule", and to provide that any measure that increases the statutory limit on the public debt shall be stand alone and require a recorded vote.

Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 19, 2009

Amends Rule XXVIII (Statutory Limit on Public Debt) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to make it out of order to consider legislation changing the statutory limit on the public debt unless it is entitled "Increasing the statutory limit on the public debt."

Prohibits such legislation from: (1) containing any provisions other than that changing the statutory limit on the public debt; and (2) being considered as passed unless so determined by a recorded vote.

(Repeals the "Gephardt Rule" providing for mandatory adjustment of the statutory limit on the public debt to conform to a budget resolution.)

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Lamborn, Doug [R-CO-5] · R–CO

Committees

  • Rules Committee
22 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Res.272 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Res.272 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Res.272 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Res.272 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources