House committee assignments effectively kick off legislative year

Shortly after being elected chair of the House Public Security Committee on Wednesday, Congressman Ubiratan Sanderson summed up what the election of committee members means for the legislative year: “The work of the House effectively begins today,” he said. 

Although lawmakers took office for new four-year terms on February 1, the House has done little work since then. That is because the chamber’s standing committees — such as those that deal with matters related to health care, education, or foreign affairs — had yet to elect their chairs and thus could not hold meetings or vote on bills. Almost all bills must pass through committees before they can be voted on in the House, making them a key part of the legislative process. These committees can also be used to stall or speed up legislation. 

The Senate has been a little more efficient. Senators formed their own committees last week, and have already approved some important motions, such as inviting Central Bank head Roberto Campos Neto and five former executives of Americanas — a retailer embroiled in a massive accounting scandal — for public hearings.

The reasons for the difference in pace can be traced back to the leadership elections in the House and Senate. Rodrigo Pacheco was re-elected Senate president in a competitive 49-32 vote, with clear winners and losers. 

House Speaker Arthur Lira, meanwhile, was determined to win a second two-year term as speaker at all costs. He formed alliances with 20 parties and won the position with more votes than any other speaker in Brazil’s history. Then he had to pay the piper,...