The House's top lawmaker in charge of spending for the Interior Department and U.S. EPA said he hopes his Republican colleagues will use more discretion offering amendments this year when the chamber takes up its 2013 budget bills.

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) said he will discuss the issue with lawmakers at this week's Republican retreat in Baltimore, which continues through tomorrow.

"If you want an open process, which I think everyone agrees with, Democrats and Republicans ... then you need to be more thoughtful on what you're going to offer," Simpson said.

The House last summer spent about four days debating amendments to its fiscal 2012 Interior and EPA spending bill, but abandoned the process with more than 100 amendments left, Simpson said.

Many of the measures are "press release" amendments that unduly delay the legislative process, Simpson said, while others are redundant.

When the House passed H.R. 1 nearly a year ago, it contained language repealing President Obama's health care reform nine times, Simpson said. Interior spending bills at times have attracted three or four amendments that do essentially the same thing, he said.

"It's like 'We mean it.' No, no. 'We really mean it.' No. 'We really, really mean it,'" Simpson said.

In some cases, lawmakers have offered back-to-back amendments that essentially cancel each other out.

For example, an amendment by Rep. Charlie Bass (R-N.H.) last July would have increased funding for the Interior land acquisitions and conservation by $20 million in the fiscal 2012 budget (E&E Daily, July 27, 2011).

The amendment passed with Republican support, but was followed by an amendment by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) that would completely eliminate land acquisition funding and divert the savings to deficit reduction. It was rejected on a voice vote.

Simpson said that if lawmakers heed his call, he believes the House will finish all 12 of its appropriations bill by June this year.

"We're going to have an accelerated process here," he said. "Whether the Senate will get any done that we can conference and actually do individual bills like I'd like to, I don't know."

Democrats this Congress have slammed Republicans for pushing policy riders that would restrict EPA pollution regulations, eliminate protections for the Grand Canyon and legislatively delist endangered species, among other proposals.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Interior appropriations subcommittee, praised Simpson's proposal and said it would help expedite the budget process.

"I think Mike is a pro," Moran told E&ENews PM. "He's simply asking them to help him get a bill through that's in their interest."