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Right now House 1k budget for CHR simply childishness unless/until Senate does same; if not, pettiness will end w/ restored budget in bicam.
Glimpse of a unicameralist future, tho. Senate can potentially temper. Not case if unicameral. Parliamentary? Incompatible w/ commissions.
Technically CHR considered executive branch ofc. A normal president would launch a war w/House over such a move. But different now.
When unicameral National Assembly first attempted such a stunt in 1936 it led to full-blown confrontation. google.com.ph/amp/mlq3.tumbl…
National Assembly retreated just as Congress if it was serious would have to amend Const to eliminate CHR. It still might during ConAss.
For now it's just congressmen exercising impunity knowing districts too small for national indignation to matter while Senators will fix it.
Our tomorrows are built with clay of today so welcome to your sneak peek at what a unicameral parliament will be like. With no term limits.
For now, note there *is* a budget in House bill where spending originates. Senate in tackling can pass regular budget for CHR. The diff?
The difference: House booger CHR budget and (hopefully) Senate regular CHR budget get resolved in bicameral conference committee w/both.
Once agreement reached members in bicam return to respective chambers (House/Senate) to approve and this is ultimately the national budget.
Which then goes to President to sign in full as General Appropriations Act or he can line item veto portions and sign anyway.
So, again, its a bit middle finger from the Speaker and friends knowing no one can stop them, much less politically punish them. Myopia?
You bet, which is why Senate keeps being restored after each experiment with a unicameral chamber. And why senatorial districts were...
...dropped, because even if multi-province (eg semi-federal in practice) a district in the PH context fosters myopia. Except and unless...
The district is national in scope forcing a national perspective and also the only way to match a president in mandate and public standing.
That's why in general reforms like RH, FOI etc always pass in the Senate because public opinion matters and there's a national point of view
while the House always does its best to kill such measures as threatening to provincial barons.
