Pelosi Turns Back the Clock on House Reform Moderate Democrats will be frozen out.

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 1-9-09 | John Fund

[lilylangtree]

Every two years the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives introduces a new set of rules to govern the body. Normally, this event passes with barely a yawn from the public. But the changes pushed through on Tuesday by Democrats will have real-world consequences for fiscal conservatives of both parties.

Gone are term limits for committee chairmen, a big comeback for seniority over merit. Cost containment measures on Medicare, one of the fastest growing programs, are simply suspended for this Congress. The Opinion Journal Widget

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Tax increases now will be easier to pass, because opponents will not be allowed to offer a simple motion to strike any increase without making up for the "lost revenue." In addition, tax cuts are made more difficult, because they cannot be offset with spending cuts. The new rules will mean that the only way to push for a tax cut will be to propose a tax increase elsewhere.

Democratic leaders said these changes were needed to make the legislative train run faster. "Congress has to accomplish things," said Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern of the Rules Committee. "This is designed to help us do just that."

To further grease the wheels, Democrats have also emasculated the "motion to recommit" -- a procedural safeguard first given to the minority a century ago after a rebellion against tyrannical GOP Speaker Joe Cannon. It has been used by both parties to offer motions to "recommit" or send back bills on the floor to the relevant committees.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123146274483166511.html

[lilylangtree]

Considering the economic stimulus bill trying to be passed in today's Congress (plus I tried to locate this article with the search engine on FR but didn't find it), there is some might important information that we freepers need to be aware of that's listed in this article. Hope you find it as interesting as I did.

[Army Air Corps]

She's a vindictive little fascist, isn't she?

[linn37]

Congress accomplishing things is why we have such a mess now.

[GoCards]

She sure isnt the sweet little grandma that cooks cookies. Shes a bitch.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

This pigwoman is beyond vile.

[cotton1706]

They also brought back proxy voting in committee, which is offensive. If you’re not there, you shouldn’t be able to vote!

[rightinthemiddle]

Perhaps the 50 “Blue Dog” Democrats need to make a party switch.

BTW...the Media love to call Blue Dogs “social liberals” and “fiscal conservatives.” Me thinks a lot of them are Democrats who actually, really, believe in God.

I think we’re seeing that the Left’s (Obama’s) agenda is not about economic issues; they USE economic issues to achieve their SOCIAL agenda.

[lilylangtree]

It’s like when the school districts want an increase in funding. The school districts pay for a special election with that funding proposal the only thing on the ballot. The first thing to go up are the signs saying, “Kids First” and the kids don’t see a dime but the sign suckers a lot of ignorant parents into voting for the increase. The school districts command about 60-70% of our taxes, and it keeps going higher.