On the morning of July 18, the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means was scheduled to discuss a 207-page bill concerning the pension security of millions of Americans. This is the very type of vital, pocketbook issue that so many of our neighbors have discussed with me, particularly as we learn more about golden parachutes and similar special privileges for some CEOs, while ordinary employees encounter further threats to their retirement. About midnight Thursday evening, the Republican Committee Chairman, Bill Thomas, suddenly circulated an almost 100-page amendment making significant changes to this measure -- changes that will add to the national debt without addressing multiple pension concerns.

Similar far-reaching public policy decisions would not be made at the Austin School Board or the Travis County Commissioners Court without a meaningful opportunity for all elected decision-makers to participate, and the same should apply in the Congress. But instead, almost every week in this House of Tom DeLay, additional limitations are imposed to marginalize the minority, squelch genuine debate and prevent presentation of alternative proposals.

Friday morning, in order to study lengthy changes in the pension bill, I joined my Democratic colleagues in the library adjacent to the hearing room. Minutes into our meeting, U.S. Capitol police officers were summoned by Thomas to clear us out of this library. As our meeting continued, additional officers and the House Sergeant-at-Arms arrived. Only a series of votes on the House floor ended the encounter.

Meanwhile, over the objection of the sole Democrat remaining at the hearing, the Republicans steamrolled the bill through without debate or amendment and adjourned while we were attempting to review the bill. Democrats were not allowed to vote. When the only Democrat present objected, he was told by a Republican member to "shut up," and then he responded with his own unfortunate insults.

Some observers seek to trivialize this incident as just another legislative "food fight." Indeed, Republicans sought such a public relations outcome by attacking the Democrat. They even claimed that the threat from this single 72-year-old man amid 20 Republicans required calling of the police, who had, in fact, already arrived next door to break up a proper meeting.

But a much more serious matter is at stake here. Squashing debate and using federal police to attempt to disrupt the opposition is how tyranny begins. It is our responsibility to stand up firmly to those who would use police-state tactics. Our freedoms will not be taken away all at once, but they can ebb away with dangerous misconduct like this.

There is no small amount of irony that the disputed pension legislation was House Resolution 1776. The democracy that our forebears began in this land requires our continual vigilance. James Madison wrote that "there are more instances of abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpation."

This incident had both nothing to do with what recently occurred at the Texas Legislature and everything to do with it. "Nothing" in that we were not breaking a quorum or departing in protest. Rather than a walk out, we sought to walk in to meaningful participation in developing a worthwhile retirement security measure. But "everything" to do with the recent Killer D's in that federal law enforcement resources were once again diverted from public safety to partisan political purposes. And, like the events in the Texas Legislature, this troubling matter raises the question of whether democracy can flourish when the political majority tramples upon the rights of the minority.

The inspector general to the Department of Justice is now investigating misuse of the U.S. Attorney's office, the FBI and the U.S. Marshal with regard to the courageous Texas legislators, who made a stand against partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts. Just as House Republican Leader Tom DeLay misused the Federal Aviation Administration to track down state Rep. Pete Laney's airplane, and just as the Department of Homeland Security was misused, we have now seen in Congress similar arrogance, intimidation and misuse of taxpayer-financed resources to advance a political agenda.

This is intolerable in a democracy.
Americans who are concerned about us becoming a nation of citizens, who can choose only between saying "me, too" or shutting up, cannot afford to be silent.

No party, no person, has a monopoly on truth. Dissent is not an inconvenience to be tolerated, and it certainly does not warrant calling out the G-men. Dissent is the cornerstone of our democracy. Our country is stronger when we respect and show tolerance for opposing viewpoints.

To those who think such abuses will succeed, this much should be clear: We will not be intimidated. We will not back down. Too many Americans -- working families who need health care and a steady paycheck, seniors who need prescription drugs, students who need an education -- depend on us.

Lloyd Doggett (TX-10th)
Member of Congress