Proceedings are being broadcast on the web at:  http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS

12:02 p.m.  Rule officially declared passed.

Follow the link below for more exciting coverage.

11:52 a.m.  Rule passes strictly on party lines, 228-197.  Five Democrats and four Republicans did not vote.  Motion for "recorded vote" passes.  That vote is now occuring.

11:45 a.m.  Someone isn't watching the clock.

11:27 a.m.  Chair says there is no quorum.  Fifteen minutes for electronic voting.

11:26 a.m. "Debate" on the Rule is over.  Voice votes recorded.

11:24 a.m.  Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH):  I come from a union family.  This is about fairness.  Rights are being trampled.  Please vote for the rule.

11:20 a.m.  Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX):  Police union opposes card check.  EFCA is assault on the free enterprise system.  Democrats are paying back union bosses. 

11:16 a.m.Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR):  Lots of examples of employer abuse.  They just get a slap on the hand.  Unions brought us the weekend.  Nothing about the rule. 

11:14 a.m.  Rep. John  Hall (D-NY):  NLRB is not neutral on labor relations.  Managment shouldn't be allowed to appeal.  They put propaganda on the lunch tables.  Nothing about the rule.

11:12 a.m. Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ):  Bill doesn't do away with secret ballot.  Employees can have them if they want.  (Unless the Union disagrees).  Employers would not see the cards.  Unions will get the death penalty if they coerce workers.  Nothing about the rule.

11:07 a.m.  Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA):  Worst legislation I've come accross in 20 plus years.  In school we used to put our heads down on our desks and raise  our hands to vote because secrecy is important.  Complains about Rules Committe stiffling debate.

11:04 a.m. Mark Udall (D-CO):  Has concerns about lessening the use of secret ballots, but will support the bill because the NLRB has failed to support workers.  Should have allowed other amendments to be considered.  Senate should consider sunset clause.  Let's pass the bill, imperfect though it is, so the Senate can get it right.

11:03 a.m.  Al Green (D-TX):  Unions helped pass lots of good workplace legislation.  Nothing about the Rule

11:02 a.m.  Rep. Sutton:  Secret ballots are still allowed, they are just not required.  Nothing about the rule.

10:56 a.m. Rep. David Dreier (R-CA):  Opposes rule.  Says denial of consideration of amendments is unfair.  Secret ballots are sacred. 

10:55 a.m. Rep. Christopher Murphy (D-CT):  I came from a union family.  Disappearing middle class has no lobby.  Union workers make more.  Rights have eroded.  Nothing about the rule.

10:52 a.m. Steve King (R-IA):  Rep. Complains about Rules Committee refusing to allow certain amendments.  Says these were intended to protect small business.  Courage demands debate.

10:50 a.m.  Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA):  Union wages helped me get to Congress.  (Political donations too?)  Nothing about the rule.

10:48 a.m.  Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN):  Democrats are abusing process in the House, which is the same thing they used to complain about.   Complains about salting.

10:44 a.m.    Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL):  Democrats are standing up to powerful interests.  Nothing about the rule.

10:39 a.m.  Rep. Loncoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL):  There are positive aspects of the legislation -- such as increased enforcement --  but secret ballots are important.

10:37 a.m.  Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT):  Middle class needs unions.  Nothing about the rule.

10:36 a.m.  Rep. Sutton says secret ballots are not eliminated, they just are no longer required.  Nothing about the rule.

10:29 a.m.  Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) speaks against the House leadership's handling of the bill and the "silencing of one side."  Then says about the bill:  "We do not believe the policies of Europe are the way to go."  Then talks about the Democrats' insistence secret ballots in Mexican union elections.

10:20 a.m.   After a question by a Republican member as to why standing House rules are being waived for consideration of this bill, Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) launches into a speech about why the EFCA is needed.  Lots of the statistics from labor talking points.  Anectotal stories.  NLRB has "no remedial power?"  Not sure what this has to do with the rules.

10:17 a.m.  Debate on the Rule has begun