Question for anyone who knows the answer

[SoutherDem]

Last weekend when we were just over one week out, I heard the reason we couldn't wait till the last minute was a "72" hour rule. I don't know if that was on just the Senate or House or both, but that legislation must be public 72 hours before it can be voted on. We passed that yesterday. Is the rule a suggestion or did I hear wrong?

[PoliticAverse]

1. It's not actually '72 hours' it's over three calendar days which can be as short as 24 hours.

For example: one second Sunday, all day Monday, one second Tuesday.

It's a current rule of the House of Representatives not the Senate.

And rules can be suspended or just ignored.

From: http://www.house.gov/content/learn/#rules
(Rules in .pdf: http://rules.house.gov/Media/file/PDF_112_1/legislativetext/112th%20Rules%20Pamphlet.pdf )

"It shall not be in order to consider a bill or joint
resolution which has not been reported by a committee
until the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sun-
days, or legal holidays except when the House is in session
on such a day) on which such measure has been available
to Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner.".

[quiller4]

2. The rules can and have often been suspended.

Several debt limit increases were introduced in both houses and passed less than 15 minutes later within an hour of the default clock running out.