For the past 12 years, Democrats in Washington have complained mightily that Republicans shut them out of the legislative process, refusing to allow their alternative bills or amendments to come up for a vote.

Now, with Democrats in control of Congress, the tables have turned.

Republicans charge that Democrats are violating their own pledges of open government and bipartisanship by barring them from having an impact on legislation.

U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, was among those Democrats promising a fairer way of doing business if Democrats were given the opportunity to lead.

McGovern, who is the ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee, said Democrats intend to keep their promise, although they first want to pass a series of promised bills. Democrats have an agenda for the first 100 hours of the new session that includes ethics reform, a higher minimum wage, more stem cell research and lower student loan costs.

Those bills are being debated under what is called a closed rule, under which no amendments are allowed.

They are being proposed directly from the Democratic leadership, without the benefit of committee hearings.

McGovern defended the move, saying all of the bills were considered in the last session so there is no need for long deliberations.

Some were passed by Congress only to be vetoed or killed in a conference committee, he said.

To open the consideration of the bills to long debate would allow Republicans to stall legislation that has broad support and has been considered from all angles, he said.

The ethics bill, for instance, bans gifts and free air flights from lobbyists as part of the rules of the House.

"Do we need to drag this out for six months when we know its wrong to take free flights on corporate jets?" he said.

McGovern said once the initial slate of bills is voted on, the House will adopt open rules for future bills that will include plenty of debate and amendments.

He said Democrats will be far more open and fair than Republicans were when they had control. But, Republicans are not buying it.

They said Democrats have gotten the new Congress off to a bad start and have set a tone of partisanship and confrontation.

Even some conservative Democrats have criticized the close rule approach, which came down from new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.