Before the election, the litany from the left was that the arrogant Republicans shut the minority Democrats out of the legislative process in the House. But they never once tried what Nancy Pelosi is now trying. She is trying to force a rules change to House procedures that have remained unchanged since 1822. The move, if passed, will strip the minority party of any way to stop or question spending. This is a power grab on an unprecedented scale.
In English, that means that Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat leadership are proposing a massive change to the current House rules regarding the Republican right to the motion-to-recommit bills to Committees for improvement.
This rules change is a historic infringement on the rights of the Minority-it is the first change in this House rule since 1822. The RSC Floor Action Team, under the leadership of Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, have requested a series of procedural votes every 30 minutes in response to this power grab by the Majority. More details are likely to follow as the situation unfolds.
The sheer arrogance of this move is stunning. Pelosi is acting as if the House will never change hands again. That rule protects the minority from being ridden roughshod over. This turns the House over to mob rule – exactly what the rule was designed to prevent. Democrats are really going to come to regret Pelosi's reign. It will come back to haunt them.
UPDATE: Powerline reports that Pelosi has backed off and dropped the proposed rule change. Amazing how a little sunlight works.
From Steny Hoyer;
“Despite Republicans’ claims, no rule change to end this political gamesmanship has been formally proposed.
“Yet, for the last six hours, Republicans have unfortunately and irresponsibly delayed consideration of a bill critical to our nation’s defense.
“I have told Leader Boehner that I will continue my discussions with him and that there will not be a change before the Memorial Day recess.”
You’ve been misled by the Republican Party. Again. If they keep this up they’ll suffer the same fate Newt Gingrich did when he shut down the government.
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Gee, no chance you're being misled, eh? Note the clever wording:
“I have told Leader Boehner that I will continue my discussions with him and that there will not be a change before the Memorial Day recess.”
Not that there was no such change proposed – that there won't be one before Memorial Day. The Republicans are using exactly the same rule that the Democrats used when they were in minority. It has been in place since 1822. But it suddenly needs to be changed?
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Having the Dem’s change the rule would be good for the GOP overall. At the moment GOP actions show Republicans to be obstructionist abusing the recommit rule. Rule should be changed for material recommit on the subject matter only, no other type of recommit allowed.
GOP needs to get away from the do-nothing label.
Nice disinformation. Again – no different from what the Dems did. But they want to take it away from the Republicans the moment they get majority – so much for minority rights, eh? So much for the much ballyhooed bipartisanship Pelosi promised.
So much for a rule that has stood since 1822. Who is trying to silence opposition? Who is trying to suppress dissent? A slim majority overrides everyone else and squelches them?
Tell me again how the Democrats were downtrodden when they were in minority.