House Dems ratcheting up guerrilla war

The Hill ^ | 6/17/03 | Hans Nichols

[LdSentinal]

Frustrated House Democrats are planning to escalate their use of unorthodox floor procedures in reaction to what they brand as Republican efforts to silence them.

Their threat to disrupt the normal flow of legislative business could further sour what are already strained relations between the two parties. They plan to escalate the parliamentary guerrilla tactics have been on the rise since the since Memorial Day recess.

The seeds of the protest were planted in Democratic anger over not being allowed to wage an open debate over the child tax credit bill.

Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md. ), the Democratic whip, told The Hill his party would "turn up the heat on Republicans, in whatever way we can, to bring some attention to the way we are being shut-out of debate."

Hoyer added: "We are certainly going to frustrate their efforts to run the House because we are being shut out by the arrogance of the Republican leadership. I would like to say that we aren't going to have to delay and use these procedural tactics, but I think we are going to be forced to do more of it."

Democrats were reluctant to telegraph their precise tactics and methods in advance. But leadership aides said that calling for frequent adjournments votes was one scorched-earth possibility under discussion.

For their part, the Republicans say they believe they are acting fairly.

"The big concern is that [the Democrats] are trying to obstruct us from getting a permanent prescription drug benefit [enacted,] said John Feehery," a spokesman for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (Ill.) "These kind of tactics tend to backfire," he added.

The current wave of anger appears not to be limited solely to the party's liberal wing or to newer and more aggressive members. For example, Rep. Charlie Stenholm (Texas), a 13-term veteran and a Blue Dog Democrat, said, "We still have some additional arrows in our quiver and when we pull them out, you'll know."

Even as their anger bubbled over, Democrats acknowledged that House rules, in contrast to the those of the Senate, offered them few opportunities to prevent a unified and disciplined GOP majority from exerting its iron will over floor procedures.

"We don't expect to win many of these votes, but it’s not healthy for the long-term interest of the Congress," said Stenholm.

"I say that as a Democrat who watched my own party do the same thing in the 80s and 90s, and some of us went to our leaders and said, 'this isn't right'," he added.

Not all Democrats, however, are comfortable with the kind of confrontational politics that were effectively used by onetime Minority Whip Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who relied on such guerrilla tactics to help make himself Speaker of the House.

But even those Democratic lawmakers uncomfortable with obstructionist floor stunts argued that Democrats had an obligation to stand up for themselves. Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) said, "I am an institutionalist. I intensely dislike using some of those means, but we are left with no choice."

While the party appears strongly united to pursue their new more confrontational strategy, how Democrats capitalize on whatever political advantages those tactics may yield, and how far to carry them, could be divisive.

Rep. Harold Ford (Tenn.) said he was displeased with how his party's leadership urged the caucus to vote on an issue -- the child-tax credit -- over which Democrats used feisty tactics.

"It's hard to go home and say we had a big victory because we stopped some post offices from being renamed," said Ford, in reference to the defeat of two non-controversial bills brought up under the "suspension calendar" on June 3.

Because the GOP leadership brought the tax measure to the floor under a "self-executing rule," which didn't allow Democrats an opportunity to offer their own alternative package, the Democratic leadership urged their members to vote against it. Democratic party leaders branded it as a "poison bill" that stood no chance of final passage. In the end, only nine Democrats voted for it.

While Ford was unhappy over how the Republicans structured the rule, he said Democrats should have buried their procedural qualms and voted for the bill.

"That was a victory for working families. The Republicans were embarrassed by it. Why give them a win. That was our win," said Ford.

Democrats said their ferocity in pressing for a child tax credit for low-income families may give the Republican leadership a taste of what they can expect in the coming months.

In a heated exchange with Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) who was in the chair at the time, Ford was gaveled down several times for being out of order.

Ford said: "LaHood made me sit down, but I said 'if he says welfare one more time, I am going to stand right up.' I told LaHood that if someone uses the word 'welfare' one more time, I am going to stand up and start hollering."

[CyberAnt]

ONE SIMPLE WAY TO STOP ALL THIS STUFF:

TARGET DASCHLE'S WIFE'S LOBBYING - SHUT HER OUT! N O W ! She's already made a gazillion dollars off America - time to play hardball!!

And ... tell Ford we'll stop saying "welfare" as soon as they stop lying about the President ... deal ...??

[nopardons]

For decade after decade, the Dems owned both Houses and didn't " give " the GOPers any voice at all. We need to fight back, keep fighting them, and make sure that we give both Houses an even LARGER majority of GOPers ( even if some are RINOS ! ) come '04. It is the ONLY way, that we can ever get even a shred of what we all want.

[Southack]

Isn't it *interesting* that Pelosi has Ford, of all people, doing her new dirty work to obstruct the House?!