abstract:In the United Kingdom House of Commons, the Committee of the Whole House is used instead of a standing committee for the clause-by-clause debate of important or contentious bills. The sitting is presided over by the Chairman of Ways and Means, rather than the Speaker of the House.
"I'mskepticalof the bailout, the wholebillisonlya coupleofpages long, " saidRepresentativeScottGarrett, Republicanof New Jersey, who is a memberof the HouseFinancialServicesCommittee.
Since the second reading and the ensuing committeeofthewholehouse are to take place on Tuesday, this could be a pretty interesting occasion, from a number of points of view.