Comments on: Democrats grab more power in Congress http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/ Sat, 26 May 2012 07:01:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: aznew http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18709 aznew Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:02:47 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18709 J.R. @ June 17 10:19 a.m. Here is an excellent article from the Boston Globe regarding how the House ran under the GOP: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/10/03/back_room_dealing_a_capitol_trend?pg=full No clean hands, here. Some of the bills discussed in this article were appropriations bills. Is it right? IMHO, a healthy democracy would find a way for legitimate amendments to be introduced and debated, while excluding those interposed to make a rhetorical or political point of to waste time. People smarter than me, however, have not figured out how to do that, and probably never will as long as people on both sides of the aisle continue act in bad faith, but that's politics, I guess. But I'm not sure how the GOP can complain about poor treatment in light of stuff like this from when they were in charge: "The ... episode is emblematic of the way business is conducted in the 108th Congress, where a Republican leadership has sidelined legislation unwanted by the Bush administration, even when a majority of the House seemed ready to approve it, according to lawmakers, lobbyists, and an analysis of House activities." J.R. @ June 17 10:19 a.m.

Here is an excellent article from the Boston Globe regarding how the House ran under the GOP:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/10/03/back_room_dealing_a_capitol_trend?pg=full

No clean hands, here. Some of the bills discussed in this article were appropriations bills.

Is it right? IMHO, a healthy democracy would find a way for legitimate amendments to be introduced and debated, while excluding those interposed to make a rhetorical or political point of to waste time. People smarter than me, however, have not figured out how to do that, and probably never will as long as people on both sides of the aisle continue act in bad faith, but that’s politics, I guess.

But I’m not sure how the GOP can complain about poor treatment in light of stuff like this from when they were in charge:

“The … episode is emblematic of the way business is conducted in the 108th Congress, where a Republican leadership has sidelined legislation unwanted by the Bush administration, even when a majority of the House seemed ready to approve it, according to lawmakers, lobbyists, and an analysis of House activities.”

]]> By: Steve Vaughan http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18679 Steve Vaughan Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:53:20 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18679 Brian: You're spot on here. In a legislative body, the majority makes the rules. The minority holds a press conference and raises a stink. If you have a united majority, limiting the minority amendments is just a way to keep from wasting time by voting them down one by one. In the General Assembly, both Democratic House Speaker Tom Moss and his Republican succesor Vance Wilkins had designated delegates that they would call on to "call the pending question" to end debate when it began to drag on and on. That motion nearly always carried. Brian: You’re spot on here. In a legislative body, the majority makes the rules. The minority holds a press conference and raises a stink. If you have a united majority, limiting the minority amendments is just a way to keep from wasting time by voting them down one by one. In the General Assembly, both Democratic House Speaker Tom Moss and his Republican succesor Vance Wilkins had designated delegates that they would call on to “call the pending question” to end debate when it began to drag on and on. That motion nearly always carried.

]]> By: Brian http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18661 Brian Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:56:46 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18661 This seems like the kind of behavior you complain about when the other side engages in it. I don't know about spending bills in particular, but a Roll Call article from May 2007 (!) says the Dems shut out Repub amendments 43% of the time compared to 32% by the Repubs when they had the majority. I'm having a hard time working up much outrage here. This seems like the kind of behavior you complain about when the other side engages in it. I don’t know about spending bills in particular, but a Roll Call article from May 2007 (!) says the Dems shut out Repub amendments 43% of the time compared to 32% by the Repubs when they had the majority. I’m having a hard time working up much outrage here.

]]> By: J.R. Hoeft http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18659 J.R. Hoeft Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:19:16 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18659 Shane, I can't recall anytime that the GOP did not allow the Democrats to offer amendments on spending bills and I challenge you to prove your point with facts. Regardless, your point about offering up alternatives is the right one...and those alternatives are all over the place. Just because we're not writing about it here doesn't mean they don't exist. Shane,
I can’t recall anytime that the GOP did not allow the Democrats to offer amendments on spending bills and I challenge you to prove your point with facts. Regardless, your point about offering up alternatives is the right one…and those alternatives are all over the place. Just because we’re not writing about it here doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

]]> By: Steven Osborne http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18658 Steven Osborne Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:06:53 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18658 Shane, Thats just it, the Republicans are putting out positions and ideas. The problem is that those ideas are not getting the kind of public airing that they deserve. Also, it seems to me that the Democratic minority had a powerful dissenting voice and used it quite often. Hence why they were able to kill social security reform. Shane,

Thats just it, the Republicans are putting out positions and ideas. The problem is that those ideas are not getting the kind of public airing that they deserve.

Also, it seems to me that the Democratic minority had a powerful dissenting voice and used it quite often. Hence why they were able to kill social security reform.

]]> By: Shane McNulty http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18657 Shane McNulty Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:08:26 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18657 And.. I'm just curious, what makes this any different from 2000 - 2006 with Republican controlled Legislative and Executive branches? Turn about is fair play gentlemen. I'm not saying it's right, cause it's not, but I understand. If the GOP wants to turn this around they'll quit complaining about what Obama's saying or not saying (because that crap is petty), and instead use the public forum to introduce new ideas. Where's the broad defense of the tax payer? Where's the emphatic-to-the-point-of-boring itemization investigation into the TARP and other bailout measures? There are things the GOP could be doing right now, today, without even being on the floor of Congress, and could start to turn things around for them. And speaking as someone who actually likes the idea of having more than one party in power at a time... please get on with it. And.. I’m just curious, what makes this any different from 2000 – 2006 with Republican controlled Legislative and Executive branches? Turn about is fair play gentlemen.

I’m not saying it’s right, cause it’s not, but I understand.

If the GOP wants to turn this around they’ll quit complaining about what Obama’s saying or not saying (because that crap is petty), and instead use the public forum to introduce new ideas. Where’s the broad defense of the tax payer? Where’s the emphatic-to-the-point-of-boring itemization investigation into the TARP and other bailout measures? There are things the GOP could be doing right now, today, without even being on the floor of Congress, and could start to turn things around for them.

And speaking as someone who actually likes the idea of having more than one party in power at a time… please get on with it.

]]> By: Steven Osborne http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18654 Steven Osborne Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:03:27 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18654 The Democratic majority must shut out Republican alternatives if they are to continue to paint the GOP as the "party of no." The sad part is that they are shutting out some ideas that may be good ones, in exchange for political gain. This is why the American people must vote them out of power next year. The Democratic majority must shut out Republican alternatives if they are to continue to paint the GOP as the “party of no.” The sad part is that they are shutting out some ideas that may be good ones, in exchange for political gain. This is why the American people must vote them out of power next year.

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18648 Brian Kirwin Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:26:28 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2009/06/16/democrats-grab-more-power-in-congress/#comment-18648 Sounds like the Democrats fear some Republican amendments may actually pass. Sounds like the Democrats fear some Republican amendments may actually pass.

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