Past House GOP Tactic Proves Useless to Democrats
- Posted on April 24, 2011 at 7:25pm by
Scott Baker
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WASHINGTON (AP) — A year ago, when Republicans were in the minority on Capitol Hill, they drove Democrats crazy by using an obscure parliamentary maneuver to change, delay and even kill Democratic priorities.
Now that Republicans are running the House, Democrats have tried to stymie the GOP agenda by relying on the tactic, known as the motion to recommit. But they’ve failed on every one of their 23 attempts this year.
That motion is almost always the last step just before the final vote on a bill. It gives the minority party, which has little voice and few rights in the House, a last chance to amend a bill, or in a more traditional sense, return it to the committee level for further work.
Often, the maneuver is aimed at forcing members of the majority into an untenable choice between opposing their party’s position or casting a vote that opponents could use against them in election campaigns.
For a recommit motion to work, the minority party must pick off at least some members of the majority. Thus Democrats would need at least a few dozen of the House’s 241 Republicans to vote with them this year. Their best showing so far on any motion: two GOP votes.
Republican leaders may have a hard time keeping their troops in line on the budget and social issues, but there’s near ironclad unity when it comes to keeping Democrats in their place.
A Democratic motion on a recent bill to cut off federal dollars for National Public Radio would have continued money for Amber alerts on NPR regarding abducted children. The motion didn’t get a single Republican vote. Nor did Democrats get a nibble when they called for federal air marshals on high-risk flights as part of aviation legislation.
On a highway spending bill, Democrats were shut out when they tried to cut off federal aid for “bridge to nowhere” projects in Alaska. They drew a single vote on a motion to the last short-term spending bill stating that there would be no cuts to Social Security or Medicare. “That is simply a fog screen,” GOP Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said in opposing it.
Such motions rarely succeed for either party. But Republicans in the recent past have managed to entice conservative and vulnerable Democrats with motions on sensitive subjects such as guns, abortion and immigration.
Republicans nearly succeeded in derailing the health care act last year with a motion to recommit that contained anti-abortion provisions. Democratic leaders had to appease their own anti-abortion wing to secure their votes against the GOP motion.
In 2007 Democrats had to withdraw a bill giving residents in the District of Columbia a vote in the House because of a motion to repeal the city’s tough gun laws.
Last spring Republicans succeeded in changing a bill to subsidize people who buy energy-efficient products for their homes. GOP lawmakers made the changes part of a recommit motion barring contractors from hiring child molesters.
A week later they watered down a science and technology bill by attaching their version to a proposal to fire government works who view pornography on the job. Many Democrats, envisioning election-year attack ads claiming they supported pornography, had to go along.
In December, Republicans used a similar tactic to force Democrats to withdraw temporarily a bill expanding child nutrition programs. By voting against the Republican alternative, a lawmaker could be portrayed as supporting federal food money for institutions that hire convicted sex offenders.
Norm Ornstein, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said Republicans have developed the procedure as “a potent weapon of embarrassment.” They focused, he said, not so much on offering alternatives as entrapping Democrats with “gotcha” proposals.
“The Democrats have not been as relentless or adept as Republicans as far as crafting” the motions, Ornstein said.
Democrats predict they’ll have more success as the 2012 election approaches. “It depends on whether the Republican rank and file come to listen to their constituencies,” said Jennifer Crider, spokeswoman for the House Democratic campaign committee. “Right now they are listening to their leadership.”
Republican leaders have explained to their members that Democrats are given opportunities to offer amendments, and that the motions are merely procedural votes on issues where Democrats are trying to score political points.
It wasn’t always that way.
In 1909, opponents of autocratic Speaker Joe Cannon, R-Ill., forced a rule change giving priority to an opponent to offer an alternative before a final vote. In 1932 that was changed to give the minority party a last shot.
Democrats increasingly squelched that right in their many decades of controlling the House. When Republicans took over in 1995, they promised that the right to offer a motion to recommit would be honored even as they united in defeating Democratic proposals.
The Democratic return to power in 2007 was accompanied by the continued trend, starting under the Republicans, of limiting the minority’s right to offer amendments. The motion to recommit was often the only chance to affect legislation.
“In recent years, and not just under the current majority, the minority has been forced to use the motion to recommit, often in ways that are painful for the majority, to ensure the minority’s voice is heard,” Ohio Rep. John Boehner, then the minority leader, told the American Enterprise Institute in a speech last September. “And in turn, the majority has responded by conjuring up new ways to shut the minority out even further. It’s a cycle of gridlock.”
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BORNINTOAWORLDATWAR
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 11:57pmTwo Party Scam you are an idiot.
Go take a nap.
Report Post »Two Party Scam
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 10:56am30AD to 1520 AD: The Roman Catholic Vatican ruled the world which they called their Holy See (Vatican Rule.)
1520: Protestant Christians separated from the Roman Catholic Vatican, due to its endless demands for Wealth (Church Taxes, Indulgences) and Power (Crusades & Inquisitions.) They fled and built North America to escape religious persecution, and created the Christian/Judeo Alliance with persecuted Jews.
1534AD: Pope Paul III established the Roman Catholic Jesuit Society ‘Society of Jesus’ to have male priests form a secretive group of men to infiltrate and destroy the new Global Protestant Christian/Judeo Alliance movement from within, to regain their Holy See (Vatican Rule.)
1535-1881AD: Roman Catholic Jesuits are expelled from over 183 countries for ‘Religious Political Subversion and Economic Manipulation.’ They were able to do so by PRETENDING TO BE OF OTHER FAITHS to gain trust from within. Once their trust was reached, they were easily elected into position of power, which they could then empower the Vatican once again.
1882AD: Roman Catholic Jesuits are forced to hide behind secretive global men’s clubs such as the Freemasons, Knight of Columbus & Lions Clubs to weave an illusion of ‘legitimacy’ within communities all around the globe.
1883-Present: Roman Catholic Jesuits continue infiltrating and corrupting the Christian/Judeo Alliance, PRETENDING TO BE JEWS while deceptively blaming the Jews for all their hidden corruption by using their media monopolies (CNN, ABC & CBS)
Georgetown & Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuits now control the Democrat Party
Georgetown & Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuits now control the Republican Party
Georgetown & Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuits now control the Supreme Court
Georgetown & Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuits created the Federal Reserve to redistribute Christian/Judeo wealth and power back to the Vatican (European Union.)
Georgetown & Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuits now control the Media
Georgetown & Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuits now control Hollywood
Georgetown & Harvard Roman Catholic Jesuits now control Big Oil
Roman Catholic Jesuits control the ‘Global Central Banking’ system (IMF, World Bank & the UN)
Bill Clinton was trained by Georgetown Roman Catholic Jesuits to pretend to be a Protestant Christian (Baptist)
George Bush was trained by Georgetown Roman Catholic Jesuits to pretend to be a Protestant Christian (Baptist)
Barrack Obama was trained by Georgetown Roman Catholic Jesuits to pretend to be a Protestant Christian (Chicago Evangelical)
Roman Catholic Jesuits have controlled practically EVERY aspect of your life for the past 1500 years!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87-6P0QKhFo
Report Post »TopOfTheMuffin2u
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 10:54amWell, I guess the “DemoRats” aren’t as smart as thry think they are!
Report Post »eaterofdead
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 10:49amwhat sgoing on?
Report Post »John 3:16
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 9:27amBush is a Rino too. He should be blamed as all Rinos. We need to hunt the Rinos down. Put a bounty on them. The Republican leadership is full of RINOs. You can start at the TOP. My Republican Senator Grassley is a Rino and needs to go. TERM LIMITS ON ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS!!!!
Report Post »powhatan
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 9:19amThe only good thing about having two opposing houses is that they can’t do too much damage from now on….but I think they have done way too much already…..sad
Report Post »SheriS
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 7:03amHave to love it when the Repubs use the Demo tactics to defeat the Demos! Is that what you call “shoving it down their throats”? Sure Witch Nancy is crying “foul” every two minutes because her garbage that she did to the Republs is coming home to “roost”! Take it like a lady Witch–we can deliver your crap right back in your face!
Report Post »David, the Constitutional Libertarian
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 6:04amWell if I am reading you right, you are talking about what Ann Coulter was saying.
Heck, we could balance the budget if we just put PP on one side and everything else on the other!
The Democrats are soooooo invested in killing children, we could get them to sign onto anything if we allowed the PP funding to go through!!!!!!!
Report Post »Arc
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 2:55amThis political “wrangling is precisely what I detest about politicians. Every one of them has been sent to DC to DO THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS. Instead of working to agree on an action for a piece of legislation that they want to write or pass, they immediately AGREE to DISAGREE and smugly go about “checking with their lobbyist” to see if its beneficial for both ( the lobbyist & the politician ) nevermind the people who voted them in to office. Hopefully, this “freshmen” class will stand strong and force the greedy, self serving politicians to START WORKING FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 11:58pmGet rid of the
Report Post »RINO’s ASAP.
TOPOFTHEGAME
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 11:42pmRINO’S ARE FIRST ON MY LIST. Then the POTUS P.ut O.bama T.he U.nidentified S.omeone in office
Report Post »vtech61
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 11:30pmI see dead democrats. LOL
No, really I do.
I also see dead NBPP leaders DEAD.
Report Post »Death sucks, but somebody’s got to do it.
Mister_Bill
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 10:12pmI am glad to see that our American system allows the minority to put their stamp on any legislation that gets put up to a vote. I am even more glad that The Republicans have stood firm together to block any of these attempts.
Report Post »miles from nowhere
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 10:03pmI am a committed Tea Party member and I am all for getting rid of any Republican that is not truely conservative, so start the list!
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 9:47pmAll of these rules used in “clever” manipulations of votes on unnecessarily complicated bills are one of the things that Americans are angry about regarding Congress.
Report Post »I think most of us want the process clarified and simplified to reflect the honest intention of each and every individual issue. One bill – One vote. Stop the BS in between.
marine249
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 10:04pmoff subject I just eat dinner.
Report Post »eat more ham.
338lapua
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 10:29pmHam IS delicious.
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 1:54amBrats and beans for me….but I’m crushed, I thought I said something kinda important above. haha
Report Post »Rob
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 9:15pmI think I am turning libertarian… I want ALL those bastards too keep out of my business. Don’t tell me what to do with my money or tell anyone about abortions (which I don’t like). Just stat the hell OUT!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 9:09pmHAPPY EASTER!!!!!!!!!!
AND, TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE, THE PERFECT VISUAL EXPLAINING THE LAME STREAM MEDIA LOL
http://www.americanthinker.com/cartoons/
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:52pmOK…. political chess.
I guess.
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:43pmI‘m glad to hear that it’s still possible for Republicans to beat out the Democrat-scum on house votes.
The more the better. We still need to get rid of the RINOs.
I think the way the Dems are trying to get past their problem is by launching vicious lies and propaganda.
I hope the leftists/communist/democrats rot in Hell where they belong, the America-hating scum.
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:56pmAgreed, I look so forwards to the 12 elections, it’s going to be a shattering defeat for Odumbo, the DemonRats, and the RINOs. That is IF we get to have elections….SIGH.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 10:09pmCold War Vet
“I think the way the Dems are trying to get past their problem is by launching vicious lies and propaganda.”
——————–
Remember, Vet, they are OBOMBOCRATS, it is impossible for them to tell the truth.
BetterDays;
“That is IF we get to have elections….SIGH.”
Report Post »—————————
I saw previous posts and thought you were just being silly, I’m not so sure now. May God preserve US.
sbleve
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 6:48amThe wooden bucket has become dried and shrunk. To swell the wood to create a water-tight container is a slow process.
RINO’s still need to be introduced to the tallow factory.
Rapid change is the history of man. Almost all of the past demonstrations of a rapid change has given the recipient a sleeping tyrant.
Report Post »MEESHEL
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:34pmBlame it on Bush.. ? I’m confused
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:39pm“I’m confused”
Blame Bush.
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:49pmBlame somebody, but whatever you do don’t be accountable ! Oh, the weeds police are at my door gotta go……………..
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:56pm“Oh, the weeds police are at my door gotta go……………..”
Blame Bush.
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 9:17pmNON- its fascinating to watch a dimwit bang against his own intellectual
Report Post »limitations. Please continue.
Non-sequitur
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 9:25pm“its fascinating to watch a dimwit bang against his own intellectual
limitations. Please continue.”
Blame Bush.
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 10:07pmI stand corrected, NON, there’s nothing fascinating about your intellectual limitations. You’ve redefined dimwit downward, WAY downward. Congratulations.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:31pmHappy Easter Everyone!
Report Post »MEESHEL
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:36pmRIGHT-back-at’cha my friend :D
Report Post »randy
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:30pmYeah, now if we can only get rid of the RINO’s in the GOP
Report Post »Revere1
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:33pmLooks like the Democrats in Congress may be just as useless as the Republicans often are. The Dems really haven’t had any real leadership in a long time. http://www.elephantwatcher.com/
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:38pmAlways keep a politician on a leash .
Report Post »ilovethiscountry
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:39pmAt least the Republicans can stick together when keeping the Dems in their place. Now if they can stick together in other legislation.
Report Post »MEESHEL
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:41pmSo are we blaming Bush? I’m confused….
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:42pm@Revere1
True, remember that many of the democrats who lost in the ‘10 elections needed to have counseling to understand the nation saying to them “FIRED!!!”
Report Post »sooner12
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:43pmI like it when the shoe’s on the other foot. Now we need true Republicans to be elected and re-elected in 2012. Go Tea Party candidates!!!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:46pmIt will be RINO season in 2012… Get your license NOW
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:49pmAs long as the Dumbocrats persist on keeping their current leaders the Repubs can keep forcing them into a corner. Let’s face it between Pelosi, Hoyer etal the current “leaders” of the Dems can never put NASA on their resumes. snicker, snicker, hee, hee!
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 8:51pmI love hunting RINO’s. Last one I helped bag was a Rino named Arlen. Got my sights set on one named Gerlach now.
Report Post »MiketheTrucker
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 9:00pmThe key problem is that the republican party is “listening to leadership”, which doesn’t always bode well for we the people.
And Randy, you are right, we MUST get rid of more RINOs in 2012, if we are to have a chance to survive.
Report Post »joe conservative
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 9:05pmI agree, we need to get the Rino’s out in 2012. These Rino’s have been exposed for what they are, and their time is over. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpFG2wg6KIU
Report Post »theonefromabove
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 10:18pmYeah getting rid of the rhinos is very important for 2012.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 10:26pmHas anyone noticed how QUIET the RINO’s have been lately? Ain’t heard a PEEP outa Lindsay Graham….in a while. The rest of them stick their heads up just long enough to get a good slappin down and they are gone. Hope they are having a come to Jesus epiphany. Can never trust them, buts its funny when they grovel.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 10:53pmHow about a novel idea, after we redraw all of the disctricts we can, properly, we vote out all the Liberals, I don’t mind blue dogs (moderates), They seem to be forthright, it is the liberal progressives we need to get rid of EVERYWHERE!
Report Post »avenger
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 6:11amwe are working on a rino extinction program to remove them from the endangered species list.soon to promote open season on these morons in the next election !
Report Post »sbleve
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 6:26amRino, moss back etc is the problem. Sometimes citizens are born with moss skeins hanging from their earlobes. Any elected person that claims some allegiance to Constitutional protection – due process that was in office on Sept 14th 2001 is the liability.
I have sined to the tenth degree – believing that temporay violation of law – Consitutional protections was warrented for my grandchildren’s safety. Give a moss back a yard and he-she shall take the ‘klic’.
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 1:00pmDemocrats predict they’ll have more success as the 2012 election approaches. “It depends on whether the Republican rank and file come to listen to their constituencies,” said Jennifer Crider, spokeswoman for the House Democratic campaign committee. “Right now they are listening to their leadership.”
Report Post »If the Republican rank and file listen to their constituencies then it would really become impossible for the demoncrats to get anything done. The biggest problem we have right now is that there are still too many rank and file listening to their RINO leadership.