Posted on 01/17/2014 5:27:51 AM PST by cotton1706
No unemployment benefits for millionaires? You would think a proposal to cut them off wouldn’t generate much opposition, particularly from Senate Democrats – but you would be wrong.
Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania figured out how to get a little payback from Senate Majority Leader "Dingy" Harry Reid Wednesday for the czar-like way he runs the Senate. Introduce what are known as “third degree” amendments to must-pass legislation being debated, and when they are ruled out-of-order, appeal the ruling and call for a roll call vote, effectively tying the place up, delaying what is going on, and forcing vulnerable Democrats to cast votes that may hurt them in the next election.
I spoke with Toomey early Wednesday morning, who reminded me that Reid has turned the Senate into a banana-Republic-like institution, changing the rules so he can jam anything through and prevent any Republican from offering any amendment on anything, and pretty much shutting down the entire committee structure. Old Lyndon Johnson ruled the Senate on his terms back in the 1950s, but compared to Harry Reid, LBJ was a first-class piker.
It is important to remember what Reid is up to.He knows that his leadership spot is in jeopardy in the November elections. Enough vulnerable Democrats are in difficult races that Republicans could take control of the Senate, making Obama a two-year lame duck and rendering Reid just a useless minority leader. So by prohibiting Republicans to force votes on unpopular matters that Democrats have to vote for, he just might be able to help those Democrats in their difficult elections. Toomey, however, may have figured out a way around Reid’s scheme.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
So for the first time in months, Republicans went on the offensive.....I dunno. Seems like the first time in years. Gotta write Toomey an email thanking him instead of blasting him.
Since Pat Toomey got into bed with Chuck Schumer and Michael Bloomberg to chip away at our Second Amendment rights with the “Toomey-Manchin Amendment” or whatever it was called last year, he’s been having to develop a conservative act.
The politicians in Washington are sure putting it on thick and heavy with conservative talk and tough words that mean squat.
This government has been ripping off veterans so long that it’s a real miracle that the military continues to get members.
The only people not screwed have been the illegal alians and the welfare cliants.
I love the military but I refuse to reccomend that anyone joins while this corrupt administration is in power.
I still think the 50 vote majority that the founders envisioned is better. For Constitutional Amendments keep it 2/3rds. I don’t think the founders would be cheerleading this 60 vote thing. I know for a fact it is not in the ORIGINAL constitution. If the Republicans had done this (and should have) I would be thrilled too. In 2015 when the Republicans take over, you guys will be relieved by this. We can replace liberals with conservative judges. I also believe that the bills should only be 50 votes too. Why this 60 vote thing came up is beyond me....obviously political years ago.
1. Propose Amendment
2. Harry denies
3. Appeal denial
4. Libs filibuster
5. Bill stalls......dies....mission accomplished
“Why this 60 vote thing came up is beyond me....obviously political years ago.”
That was Chuck Schumer’s doing. He’s behind all of this. It was very rare before he got there. What happened was, when George Bush got elected in 2000, for the first time since 1930, the Congress and the Presidency together were controlled by the republicans. So they did everything possible to thwart a republican or conservative agenda. But Bush got his tax cut bill through the senate through reconciliation, requiring only 50 votes plus Cheney’s to break the tie.
So the democrats then worked on Jim Jeffords to leave the republican party, the democrats retook control of the senate until 2003, then they gained more seats in 2004. Then they convinced McCain and the rest of the moderates (gang of 14, etc) to thwart any conservative advance.
It’s an insidious, bipartisan plot. That’s why moderates who help Schumer need to be removed!
Much of the impotence of the Republicans in Congress is self-imposed. There are ways to circumvent blockages, but those ways require major involvement and effort.
Too many Pubbies are too satisfied with the status quo — after all, they still get their turn at the money troughs.
Harry Reid is a VILE, EVIL little girlie man....a BULLY with a VERY BAD ATTITUDE and LAWLESSNESS!!
This latest move makes me smile, and I will thank him but I'll also remind him why he has a long way to go to get any of my support.
it’s a real miracle that the military continues to get members.
It’s the only job out there for a lot of people.
I’m a veteran and I also love the military. Given the current corrupt administration, led by the liar-in-chief, I’d not only recommend no one join the military, I’d also recommend that current members seek honorable discharges/resignations asap. I couldn’t, with a clear conscience, serve with an usurper as commander-in-chief. A significant reduction in military membership would pressure our leaders to take some much-needed corrective actions.
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