Whoever has the power to make the rules and designs the structure will determine those who can participate and ultimately will determine what the outcome will be.
Katherine
Posted on 01/08/2009 6:00:18 AM PST by Sopater
Shift could create 'the most closed Congress in history.'
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has brought back archaic procedures in order to silence conservatives.
On Tuesday, the full House passed the Rules Package for the 111th Congress, 242-181. The changes limit the GOP's ability to use procedural rules like the Motion to Recommit, which is the last opportunity for the minority party to amend a bill before it passes.
“The new rules consolidate power in the hands of a few and attempt to silence Republican input on key policy debates, in addition to making a mockery of the Democratic leaders' promises of presiding over an open Congress," Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said in a statement.
In the last Congress, Republicans were able to block some of the Democrats’ tax increases using a Motion to Recommit.
California Rep. David Dreier, ranking Republican on the House Rules Committee, called Pelosi's changes an "act of pure cynicism," according to The Washington Times. He said the changes will create "the most closed Congress in history."
Tom McClusky, vice president for government affairs at FRC Action, agreed.
"It severely limits the democratic process in the House," he said, "and doesn’t allow the minority to speak out on a number of issues where they represent a large amount of the American public.”
The House also repealed a rule limiting committee chairmen to three terms as head of a committee.
The true ‘change’ that 0bama promised. To quote Rahm from a few years back ‘Republicans can go **** themselves’.
When things screwup they cant blame the Republicians.
Wanna bet?
They can, and they will, and the media will cheer. The sheeple will believe the media because they can’t “lie on television”.
I really don't see the big problem here. To the victor go the spoils. Perhaps the GOP will need to move to win back a majority in 2010. Of course, if it does manage to do that, it will probably reinstate all of these rules "out of fairness."
Wait! THe Republicans didn’t do that to the Democrats when they were a minority! What gives? Aren’t the Democrats going to play nice and be “bipartisan” like the Republicans did?!
Republicans = the tweedleDUMB party
This is exactly the change the One hoped for.
They will ALWAYS blame the Republicans. They’re VICTIMS without any personal responsibility...remember?
Support candidates who run against Reid and Pelosi.
Whoever has the power to make the rules and designs the structure will determine those who can participate and ultimately will determine what the outcome will be.
Katherine
***When things screwup they cant blame the Republicians***
They will be arguing that “Bush did it” for the next 20 years.
“...I pray to God for Justice.”
always!!! but remember when you are out in your boat and a storm is approaching, “pray to God but row toward shore.” - which is great theology - and politics.
don’t just let it happen - do something!!!
So why did the Rinos bend over and spread-em when they were in the majority? Are the democrats the only ones who know how to take advantage of being the majority party?
This is great news. When republicans were running things they shared the power. Well I hope the twits learn something in case they ever get a second chance. But I doubt they will.
The GOP should have silenced the Democrats, thereby silencing their constituents? Yeah, THAT’S real Constitutional. Leave it to a “true conservative” to state an idea like that.
I sent a pretty harsh e-mail to my local House rep. It won’t do any good, but I did let off a little steam.
And why is that a bad idea, provided that it is indeed Constitutional? Since these are simply House Rules changes I highly doubt there would be a problem constitutionally.
During the time the GOP ran Congress, the Democrats were given a say. Look where it got the GOP.
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