Posted on 07/09/2015 7:47:09 AM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights
In a rapid and dramatic policy shift, Confederate flag imagery could be allowed to remain displayed on graves on federal land in some circumstances under a Republican-sponsored amendment that will be voted on in the House on Thursday.
Ken Calvert, R-Calif., announced the unexpected change of plans Wednesday evening as floor debate wrapped up on the fiscal 2016 Interior-Environment spending bill (HR 2822). The Interior-Environment Appropriations chairman and floor manager set a roll call vote on the Confederate flag amendment for Thursday, when lawmakers are scheduled to vote on final passage of the $30.2 billion measure. The move came just 24 hours after the House adopted by voice vote a trio of Democratic amendments that would restrict Confederate flag imagery on federal land. That was the House’s first move in a national debate over the flag’s place in American society, a discussion that was spurred by fatal, racially motivated shootings at a black church in South Carolina last month.
The GOP amendment was opposed by Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum, ranking Democrat on the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, who was audibly shaken while speaking on the floor and said she “cannot hide my surprise and my outrage." “After the murder of nine black parishioners, I never thought that the U.S. House of Representatives would join those who would want to see this flag flown by passing an amendment to ensure” the continued flying of the Confederate flag, McCollum said.
The Republican amendment would effectively undo two of Democratic amendments adopted on the floor Wednesday; no members spoke in opposition at the time. Those amendments would block funding from being used to decorate a grave in a federal cemetery with the flag and bar the National Park Service from using funds to contract with gift shops that sell merchandise with Confederate flag imagery. Calvert's announcement of the GOP amendment came after he had spoken on the House floor for nearly half an hour. The chamber had seemingly completed work for the day on the spending bill. He spoke about several other provisions in the underlying bill, moving to “strike the last word” — a procedural move to get more time to continue his speech — until an aide interrupted him with an amendment to offer. Calvert kept his remarks on his provision short.
“This amendment will codify existing National Park Service policy and directives with regard to the decoration of cemeteries and concession stands,” he said. “I urge adoption of my amendment.”
McCollum in a statement said that the amendment was apparently needed to get the overall bill passed. "For House Republicans it appears the cost of getting the votes to pass this terrible Interior-Environment Appropriations bill is to literally wrap themselves in this banner of racism," McCollum said. "This bill is already a polluter's dream, now the majority wants to make the bill truly toxic with this amendment."
Republicans were unlikely to get much — if any — Democratic support on the historically contentious Interior-Environment spending measure, making party unity key to passage. Spokesmen for Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Nita M. Lowey of New York, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, issued a statement Wednesday evening urging lawmakers to “reject this disgraceful gambit.”
Even if the amendment passes, they will be on record.
Those southern soldiers were citizens, too. They deserve the same respect as the Northern soldiers.
I want a goddam roll call vote or no vote, frankly. They’re not gonna get away with a voice vote - no way.
Some of those Southern soldiers were my ancestors....
For goodness sakes, show a little backbone, Republicans!!!!
Sure glad they have solved all the really big problems in this country so they can waste time on this trivial crap....................
WHY THE REGIME PICKED ON THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG
AND NOT ROOF’S MANIFESTO
Because it was under threat of questioning and possible impeachment proceedings by its so called political opposition the regime needed to defer or stop any movement toward this. It was necessary to use a political device usually atrributed to Saul Alinsky but used by the nazi and commie’s like Stalin with the “Kulacks” through racial division. It created persons engaged in felonious assults on authority who were black youths into; “Victims of an evil society” (thus approving their actions) out of whole cloth.
The regime began with the Zimmerman case which resulted in a series of assults by black youths on completely innocent whites,”hispanics”, and asians who were either targeted or wandered near or through black gang infested areas. The perpetators excuse; The reported “cold blood killing of Treyvon Martin because he was black”
It led to a score or more deaths and serious injuries which were treated as local news ignored and forgotten. And it was met with silence while this was happening. Neither the locqatious POTUS or his political opposition uttered as much as a “Now!,Now! or a “tsk!,tsk!”.
Those killings were referenced by the Charleston Church massacre perpetrator in his crazed manifesto.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3302529/posts
Naturally when it was discovered that mention of those score of murders were used in this nut cases’s “manifesto” the reaction was....“Well we can’t let that out. Oh ! His face book has him holding a Confederate battle flag, (Which to many is simply an ensign of protest and rebellion), that must be his excuse “The Confederates made him do this horrible act ! Let’s get them !” Well they’re doing a good job of perverting what that battle flag’s used for at the same time ignoring the regimes complicity in engendering those previous racial incidents.
gee thanks. Over Christmas or next summer they'll just go all the way with it.
People are well within their rights to not like this flag or that flag. But that’s it. The end.
Turn your head away and go your own way. Your right to not like something does not override the right of someone else to like what you don’t.
Is a Che Guevara shirt, Hammer and Sickle flag, or Mao poster still allowed?
I’ve never thought the First Amendment should apply to anyone.
Hopefully one day our wise leaders will ban it.
Back in world war II germany, nazi fascists burned books.
in todays America, PC fascists ban flags.
Genocidal maniacs and devil worshippers are A-OK since they’re “down with the cause”.
Leftists love to cherry pick what is “allowed” and what isn’t.
Screw them!
BREAKING NOW!!! The republicans have folded per WSB. There will be NO vote. The reason given was outrage by the Dems.
Someone flexed blackmail muscle.
Same here. One died in a Union prison; another, the half brother of a relative, died in prison too. An ancestor of mine escaped a northern prison and WALKED back to the south and his homeland. NONE of my ancestors or relatives owned slaves; they were protecting their homeland from northern invaders. They were honorable men fighting a noble cause.
Tell me again what the Republicans have done to protect our freedoms within the last few decades. Either they haven't done anything, or I've simply forgotten.
Defund the GOP. Give to Conservative candidates directly. Leave out the useless and support the useful.
COWARDS. Useless cowards.
The biggest problem in America today is stated in the title of this thread: “Allowing”!
You don’t want the government to pay for Confederate flags, I MIGHT understand that premise, but to BAN a flag simply because “some people” find it “offensive” is the ultimate overreach of the U.S. Government!!
How far have we fallen, that we must await Congressional approval to allow us to decorate the grave of a loved one?!?
I mean really, the title alone should be enough to make every American’s blood boil!
I agree. I was telling my husband about this post, and he said "Allow? ALLOW? Who are they to "allow? This is America! We can hang whatever flag we frigging want!"
Create an issue to hide the issue.
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