Posted on 09/28/2013 6:54:34 PM PDT by markomalley
The House on Saturday night approved a rule that governs debate and votes on a Republican plan to fund the government.
The GOP plan also delays ObamaCare for a year and eliminate ObamaCare's medical device tax.
Members voted 231-191 in favor of the rule, which sets out several steps for considering the continuing resolution and the two Republican amendments. Two Democrats voted with Republicans in favor of the rule.
The rule calls for an hour of debate on a motion to accept the Senate-passed spending bill along with the two amendments. One amendment delays ObamaCare for a year, the other eliminates the 2.3 percent medical device tax that was imposed under ObamaCare.
After the debate, members will vote on the two amendments. Assuming they both pass, the House will not have to hold a final vote on resolution again — instead, it will have been passed and sent back to the Senate by virtue of passing the two amendments.
The rule also calls for 40 minutes of debate — and a separate vote — on H.R. 3210. That bill would ensure continued funding for the military and related civilian personnel and contractors in the event of a government shutdown.
Debate on the rule grew testy as Republicans continued to cast their amendments as language that would help avoid a government shutdown, while Democrats said it would do exactly the opposite.
"The legislation before us today will ensure that a shutdown does not happen," said House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas).
Several Democrats reiterated that Sessions is wrong because the Senate won't have time to consider the House changes before the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
"Let me be clear: A vote for this rule and a vote for this bill are affirmative votes for a government shutdown, because everyone knows there will be no adequate time for any more ping-ponging," Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) said.
Reps. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) drew loud boos from Republicans on the floor when he charged Republicans were shutting down the government after speaking beyond his allotted time. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) also drew grumbles from the GOP after claiming repeatedly that Republicans were shutting down the government. Just before the vote, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) called the entire Republican conference into a brief meeting in the Capitol basement to explain why it took so long to get the amendments and the bill to the House floor.
Members leaving the conclave said he told them that after discussions between the parliamentarians of the two chambers, the Senate would only have to vote once on the new package, rather than on each amendment separately, as they originally believed. That should make it easier for the Senate to reject both amendments — initially, Republicans were hoping for separate votes in the hopes that the Senate would have to keep the medical device tax language intact.
Boehner did not discuss what the House would do if the Senate rejected the amended spending bill, as Democratic leaders have vowed to do.
"We're going to wait to see what they do," Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said after the meeting.
It might get delayed if enough democrats in the Senate turn. The big sticking point is Obama and his ego as you noted. Just depends on how long the House is prepared to hold firm.
Excellent point. We automatically think “caving in” but in this case it appears the Rs are standing firm while allowing some PR to kick in. Puts the RATS on the defensive.
The American people dont want 0bamacare!!!!! The House is following what the voters are demanding.
It’s completely understandable the frustration activist(FReepers)feel because we have been stabbed in the back so often but the House got the memo...and they are working on it...maybe not exactly the way we all want but this plan seems to be a winner for now.
“Obama will not sign any bill delaying the implementation of Obamacare. He has said so just recently.”
He also just said a lot of things about Syria as well.
“His ego is too large to back down from his signature piece of legislation. And it will never get out of the Senate any way.”
We’ll see. I think the House might actually be willing to stand firm for once. A lot of that depends on us: if we stand behind the House on a delay and let them know that, they might well dig in their heels. I also think there are enough ‘rats who realize that this is not ready for prime time and who might well be looking for a delay as well.
In which case dear leader isn’t going to get what he wants.
There aren’t enough Democrats to turn. It is not going to happen. Obamacare will not be delayed—at least the individual mandate portion scheduled to start on Tuesday. The elimination of the medical device tax could pass and be signed by Obama.
Dream on. The delay is not going to happen and that could be a good thing for 2014.
You’re probably right. We shall see in the next few days.
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