House Democrats Pull an End Around To Try To Overthrow Boehner and Reopen Government

[Emit]

House Democrats Pull an End Around To Try To Overthrow Boehner and Reopen Government
By: Sarah Jones
Saturday, October 12th, 2013, 3:03 pm

(...) Democrats are trying to bypass Speaker Boehner in order to allow a quick vote on a bill to reopen the government.

So far, 186 Democrats have signed a petition to demand a vote as soon as October 14th to reopen government. This discharge petition only needs a majority of House members; it doesn’t rely upon Republican leadership.

~snip~

http://www.politicususa.com/2013/10/12/house-dems-line-sign-petition-reopen-government-gops-bill.html



House Democrats: We Demand a Vote
Nancy Pelosi

#t=113

[Cha]

1. Best of Luck to our House DEMS.

thanks Emit

[Ranchemp.]

2. Hope they can pull it off

they'll need the help of some republicans to make it happen, hope enough sane republicans (haha) sign on.

[GoCubsGo]

3. Good luck, Dems!

If they can pull this off, I think they can very well win back the House next year.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Discharge Petition.

[Mass]

5. They need every democrats + about 17 Republicans for that. It will not work.

[magical thyme]

8. last I saw, there were between 20 and 24 GOP who want the clean CR

There is nothing that says they wouldn't jump at the opportunity to distance themselves from the nutcases.

[Mass]

9. Last I saw, none of them wanted to vote for a clean CR without Boehner's OK.

Several other procedural measures have been tried in the last two weeks and no Republicans voted for them.

[Emit]

47. King (R-NY) might

Rep. Peter King backs discharge petition on ‘clean’ funding bill

Rep. Peter King (N.Y.) would support a discharge petition on a "clean" spending bill if GOP leaders don't bring it to the floor soon, the centrist Republican vowed this week.

King has long pushed Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to take up the Senate-passed continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government. But he has refused to buck leadership further by endorsing the Democrats' discharge petition, which would force a floor vote on the bill.

Until Friday.

~snip~

"If we have to do a discharge petition, ultimately, we will, but this is going to come (to the floor)," King said in an interview with Bloomberg's Al Hunt that is scheduled to air Friday night.

More than 20 House Republicans have indicated they would back a clean CR if it came to the floor, but King is the first to announce his support for the Democrats' discharge petition.

~snip~

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/328085-rep-peter-king-ready-to-sign-discharge-petition-on-clean-funding-bill-

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. The difference is between saying they want the gov't re-opened, and signing a discharge petition

There's an ocean wider than the Pacific between those two things.

[cui bono]

48. How so? If Republicans sign the petition and get it on the floor

what's the point of not voting for it at that time? The damage will have already been done to them for signing the discharge petition. Then if they don't vote for it they'll just look like cowards or idiots.

On second thought, I guess they might do that just for shits and giggles, so they can give Boehner the satisfaction of saying "see? I told you we didn't have the votes." But if that was going to happen he'd just put the bill up for a vote now.

[Iliyah]

25. GOPers are too scared to go against their corporate overlords

[phleshdef]

28. Their corporate overlords want a clean CR and clean debt ceiling raise as well.

They aren't listening to them anymore. They are more scared of the tea swilling, neoconfederates than their donors at this point.

[Recursion]

65. Their corporate overlords are begging for a clean CR

This is the "GOP civil war" stuff people are talking about

[Turbineguy]

54. Those republicans

can name their price and it shall be paid.

[greiner3]

56. "... can name their price and it shall be paid."

If life were only art...

I seem to remember several 'West Wing' episodes where Josh would work his magic and get the needed votes from Rs offering them, well, whatever would work.

Come on Josh, do it one more time!!!!!!!!!!!

[joshcryer]

59. They'd never sign the discharge petition.

It'd result in shunning by the Republican majority.

[stevenleser]

6. I understand the idea, but it's a mistake. It takes the pressure of the GOP. The GOP

needs to own this in every way. They need to capitulate. They WILL capitulate or the consequences for them will be even worse than what they are certainly going to be now.

[magical thyme]

7. I don't see how this takes the pressure off the GOP.

It allows a few sane GOP to help the Dems save us all from the nutcases. It doesn't require that President Obama give even a fraction of an inch.

It leaves the insane teabaggers to blame for the mess of their own creation, without allowing them to "save face" in any way. They do own it, as well they should. Those that would like to distance themselves should be allowed to.

Or are you saying we should stand back and allow the country to go into default just for the sake of blaming the GOP?

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. Thank you.

Or are you saying we should stand back and allow the country to go into default just for the sake of blaming the GOP?

I don't want to believe that.....but.

[stevenleser]

19. I'm saying let the GOP crack themselves into a million pieces when they cave. And they WILL cave.

If we pass this around the GOP leadership in the House, then Boehner and Cantor and the rest of those losers can go to the Tea Party and say, "Look we tried, we didnt cave but those evil Democrats used a trick to get around us."

No, I don't want that. Make Boehner and the rest of them cave and come hat in hand and set off an internal war in the GOP.

[demwing]

32. You get that Dems need at least 18 R votes

(And all 200 D's) to successfully work a discharge?

Let the saner Republicans have a chance to do what's. right. I don't want Boehner and Cantor to break. I want them to go down fighting and stay down.

No mea culpas

No chance for redemption down the road.

[stevenleser]

43. I do. Everyone in the leadership of the GOP will vote No, they'll get purple or blue state Reps to

vote yes, and the majority of House Republicans including the House leadership will save face and then we will be right back in this situation in a few months.

This needs a complete resolution where those responsible are so damaged by this that they cannot pull this again. We're only 10 months into Obama's second term. They are going to get the chance to pull this over and over again until it damages them so badly that they are stopped once and for all.

[demwing]

45. I think we want the same goal

but see the battle differently

[cui bono]

49. What makes you think we won't be in this same situation later if they cave?

They'll just take it as they didn't fight hard enough.

Either way, they'll learn the wrong lesson and just think they have to be more crazy. That's the one consistent thing I see in the Banana Republicans.

Also, this way the Dems are heroes. If the Banana Republicans cave they'll still spin it as they having won something. It would be hard to spin this that way. This would have to be seen as the Dems taking the bull(shit) by the horns and taking charge to get govt open again. And it pretty much puts them on notice for the upcoming debt ceiling fight.

[stevenleser]

74. Because as Robert Reich suggests in his latest article, their funders will stop funding them.

http://robertreich.org/post/63873198693

The government is shuttered and the nation is on the verge of defaulting on its debts. But public opinion has turned sharply against the Republican Party. And the GOP’s corporate and Wall Street backers are threatening to de-fund it.

Suddenly the Republicans are acting like the school-yard bully who terrorized the playground but finally got punched in the face. They’re in shock. They’re humiliated. They’re trying to come up with ways of saving face.

With bloodied nose, House Republicans are running home. They’ve abruptly turned negotiations over to their Senate colleagues.

[magical thyme]

61. We don't know that they will cave.

They may want the country to go down in flames. My sister is a tea partier. I listened to her psycho rants for 2 years. She was acquaintances with a retired general from the tea party. They want to destroy the government. That is their goal. When they started pulling their shit last year, she was giggling like an idiot. She honestly doesn't understand how it will impact her, or maybe she doesn't care. She is the most hate-filled person I know. They want to see everything go up in flames. They honestly do.

If the moderates sign on, the tea partiers will hate the moderates and the fighting will continue through the budget process. But the country will avert catastrophe.

And with the tea party shit continuing, and Boehner and Cantor now tied to the tea party, during the 2014 election cycle, they will be creamed. They have already pissed off 70% of the country. Another year of this shit, and they will be drummed out of office.

The GOP may finally go back to being reasonable, and the blue-dogs and Reagan dems can go back to where they belong.

[last1standing]

37. That's exactly what he's saying.

There is a minority of Democrats who think that partisan games are more important than the people. You've just met one of them.

[stevenleser]

42. No, it isn't. Try asking me instead of inventing what's in my head. nt

[joshcryer]

60. Discharge petitions are extremely rare.

It'd basically allow the House Republicans to wash their hands of this issue.

Mind you, I think a discharge petition is the best way to end it, but all those teabaggers? They no longer have to own holding the congress hostage. They can wash their hands of it.

"I was against it but it passed without my say." See how that works?

[magical thyme]

62. no they won't. they will try to fight it, but won't have any way to.

So they will come up with a new attack, a Steven says above.

But it doesn't matter. No matter what happens, they will continue fighting. It is all they are. My sister is one of them. I stopped contacting her 30 or so years ago. Then she was dying of cancer and wanted to speak to me, so I called her. She went into remission and we maintained a relationship for 2 years, which I ended last year because she went right back to who she is -- a hate-filled freak show in a constant state of rage against anyone and anything. She is teabagger to to the core.

She will go to her deathbed in an entitled, narcissistic rage against the world. She is the epitome of the tea party.

If the discharge petition makes it, the tea party will continue fighting to destroy the government, because that is their real goal. By the 2014 midterms they will have tarred and feathered themselves so badly they will be down to the 10-15% of nutcases that they really are. The GOP will have a chance to go back to being a reasonably sane party and the blue dogs and reagan dems will have a place to call home again.

[joshcryer]

64. If there is a discharge petition the Hastert rule becomes irrelevant.

And the minority of the majority of the Republicans will vote with the Democrats. That's not likely to happen. Discharge petitions are literally a "fuck you" to the majority party. Those in the majority who sign off on such petitions would be highly marginalized, which is why they almost never happen.

[magical thyme]

69. time will tell whether the sane moderates will sign it or not

Sane people do not want the economy to fall off the cliff, and there is a very real fear that defaulting will do that, not only to us but the world. The US would lose it's status as the reserve currency most likely for good. China, Russia and others are already angling to replace us as the reserve; this will just increase support for their goal.

I'm wondering, too, at what stage in their careers the 20 or so who want a clean CR are at. If they aren't concerned about their careers they may be more interested in saving the US economy and restoring their party to sanity.

[Auntie Bush]

10. God to see Dems growing a pair............

I hope they succeed. I'll bet Boner will be happy....giving him an out so he won't have to bring it to a vote and keep his speaker ship without closing the Government. He probably suggested it to Obama. Oh I wish I could be a fly on the wall.

[MoonRiver]

11. God speed to them!

[ffr]

13. PRESSURE.

Keep all other options available and ready.

Thank you patriots of America!!!

[Swede Atlanta]

15. Historically, discharge petitions fail.......

Unless there are enough "sane" Republics that believe they need to save themselves and their party from the destruction of Mr. Bo-ner and the Teabag Express, this will go nowhere.

I suspect Bo-ner has enough 'dirt' on most members of his caucus to hold them in line. So I wouldn't expect much from this.

If it works - YEAH!!!!! But I am not going to expect this to be successful..

[stevenleser]

23. Are you kidding? Boehner would love this. He's literally dying here with no way out. This gives him

an out. See my post above about the GOP cracking into a million pieces.

[dkf]

53. You seriously think this is going to happen? Really?

I'm kinda blown away at how wrong you are.

[magical thyme]

63. we don't need them to crack into a million pieces.

just 2 pieces: psychos and reasonable. The psychos will continue being psycho, will continue trying to destroy the party totally. Boehner won't make the same mistake and if he does, he'll go down again with the tea party in 2014. The dems and the moderate GOP will be seen as saviours.

In any event, it's out of our hands. We can only watch and try to figure out what to do....

[Blue Owl]

16. Orange crush time

n/t

[Rebellious Republican]

17. Likely will not work, but what do I know?

I expect 10-16-2013 just before midnight something is going to happen. As long as the POTUS and Dem's do not back down.

On Edit: BTW, if no one noticed, this was produced by CAPITOL records.

[Raffi Ella]

18. wow, so there is a way around traitorous traitors, very cool.

Is this rule new or? in any case, Thank You House Democrats!

[Silver Gaia]

20. So, are they still working on this, or have they adjourned?

I heard they have adjourned and everyone has gone home. Anybody know?

[Paulie]

21. The traditional lobby groups tell those 17+ the pubs they will be fully funded during a primary

They don't need cover then. And we can get back to having a sane, paid off, government.

[onenote]

22. Last I read, the earliest a discharge petition could force a vote is Oct. 28

Under the rules, as I understand them, once a discharge petition has the requisite number of signatures, it has to sit for at least seven days and can only be taken up on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. It is already too late for the October 14 deadline.

[randome]

24. I thought they had found a way around that.

Using some previous bill filed in...May, maybe? So there wouldn't need to be a waiting period.

I hope that's the case.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font][hr]

[Sophiegirl]

27. Seems to me.....

They make up their own rules on any given moment.

[Uncle Joe]

41. This is regards to opening the government, I believe the 10/14 deadline

is pertaining to the national debt limit increase.

[marble falls]

26. Woo-hooo! About time.

[valerief]

29. WTF is wrong with the other 7 "dems"? nt

[Loudly]

31. Seems more of a deficit like 14? Good question.

[valerief]

33. I thought there were 7 more Dems. I dunno, but all Dems should be signing this. nt

[Emit]

39. Agreed!

All Dems should be signing this!

[red dog 1]

36. Excellent question!

What are the names of these DINOs?

[mountain grammy]

30. Good for the Democrats! We demand a vote!

[Quantess]

34. "...pull an end around"?

Is that like a reach around?

[randome]

57. I think it means 'loofah maneuver 6B'.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font][hr]

[Liberalynn]

35. Good luck

even though it maybe an uphill battle I thank you for trying House Dems and I hope you beat the odds.

This Dem is with you all the way,.

[raging moderate]

38. Way to go, House Dems!

Go get 'em!

[Uncle Joe]

40. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Emit.

[IkeRepublican]

44. I hope they shove it...

right up the Repukes' balloon knots.

[flamingdem]

46. any news on this yet?

is anyone left in Washington?

[cui bono]

50. Call your Rep and make sure they sign it!!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

51. Best of luck guys!

[DonCoquixote]

52. any dem that does not offer support

needs to be pilloried and primaried.

[BigBearJohn]

55. Sometimes I am proud to be a Dem. This is one of those times.

[B Calm]

58. I'd be surprised if they get enough republicans

to join them. Republicans are hell bent on destroying their party.

[moriah]

66. These are the Republican reps that agreed to vote for a CR:

Dennis Ross-FL
Mario Diaz-Balart-FL
Tom Cole-OK
Mike Simpson-ID
Richard Hanna-NY
Dave Reichert-WA
Pat Meehan-PA
Frank Wolf-VA
Peter King-NY
Erik Paulsen-MN
Frank LoBiondo-NJ
Bill Young-FL
Jim Gerlach-PA
Charlie Dent-PA
Mike Fitzpatrick-PA
Rob Wittman-VA
Tim Griffin-AR
Scott Rigell-VA
Jon Runyan-NJ
Michael Grimm-NY
Mike Coffman-CO

-----------

If any of these are your representatives, please write them and ask them to sign the discharge petition. I already wrote Tim Griffin, and called both his local and Washington offices, and will continue to do so.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

70. I see our Mr. Wittman on the list.

He's shown no individual fortitude prior, hope he can muster some now.

[freedom fighter jh]

67. There must be some Republicans who are tired of the craziness.

The stakes are high. The closer we get to default, the greater the damage to the economy. (We don't have to actually default before we get harmed. Last time we came close, our credit rating went down and then we had to pay more interest on our debt.) Yet Republicans voting for this are nuking their relationship with their party.

So it seems to be all or nothing. Maybe a bunch of them will change their party affiliation over this, to Democrat or independent. It's happened in the Senate (Jeffords, Spector). The Republicans are pushing their luck so hard that something like that has to happen. Either that or the nation defaults on its debts.

[Kaleva]

68. Bookmarked. Will call my Rep Monday.

Will e-mail later today.

[penndragon69]

71. It was posted on DU a few days ago...

In the final hour before the shutdown, repubLIEcons inserted a new rule that says that only
bonner or cantor can call this bill to the floor (this bill only) because they knew that
a discharge petition might be coming.

[melody]

72. Yeah, we're all dead

May as well surrender.

[Emit]

73. As I understand

and I'm no expert - the discharge petition may trump that move, though.

First, I think the Dems are using a previous bill:

~snip~

Dems have hit on a way to use a “discharge petition,” which forces a House vote if a majority of Representatives signs it, to try to force the issue. Previously, it was thought this could not work, because a discharge petition takes 30 legislative days to ripen, so if this were tried with the clean CR that passed the Senate, this couldn’t bear fruit until some time in November.

But now House Democrats say they have found a previously filed bill to use as a discharge petition — one that would fund the government at sequester levels.

The bill in question is the “Government Shutdown Prevention Act,” which was introduced in March by GOP Rep. James Lankford of Oklahoma.

~snip~

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/10/04/dems-move-to-force-republicans-to-reopen-the-government/



According to this article:

"This discharge petition only needs a majority of House Members to sign on and does not require any action by the Republican leadership..."

House Members Announce New Path Forward to Open the Government through a Discharge Petition

Oct 4, 2013 WASHINGTON – Senior Democratic Members of the House of Representatives announced today a new effort to overcome the Republican leadership’s obstruction and allow the House to vote to open the federal government as early as October 14th through a discharge petition. This discharge petition only needs a majority of House Members to sign on and does not require any action by the Republican leadership.

“The only thing standing between this Congress and an open government is Speaker Boehner’s refusal to allow a vote on a clean continuing resolution,” said Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). “This measure can remove the Speaker’s undemocratic roadblock and finally allow a clean vote in the House of Representatives to open the government.”

“There is a growing number of Republicans who want the opportunity to work with us to end this crisis. We have seen it in press reports. And I have heard it in my own private conversations with my Republican colleagues,” said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.). “Today, we are offering my Republican friends, and the American people, a way forward.”

“It is a national disgrace that the government of the greatest and strongest nation in the world should be shut down and held hostage to the demands of a small faction of the most radical Tea Party Republicans led by Senator Ted Cruz. If Speaker Boehner will not allow a vote on a clean, Senate-passed bill to open the government, we should force one. I hope all Republicans stand up to the Tea Party and end this reckless political game,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.).

H. Res. 372 The “Open the Government” Resolution, introduced today by Van Hollen, Miller, and Lowey, would allow an up or down vote on a clean continuing resolution, consistent with the funding levels passed by the Senate, if a majority of House Members sign onto a discharge petition. A discharge petition can be filed after seven legislative days from the introduction of the resolution. If a majority of House members sign the discharge petition, a floor vote on a clean continuing resolution could occur as early as October 14th.

~snip~

http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/press-release/house-members-announce-new-path-forward-open-government-through-discharge-petition

There is a wealth of information at this link above, including:

Copy of the Resolution to Open the Government (pdf)

Key Points on Plan to Open the Government (pdf)

Detailed FAQs on the Discharge Petition Process (pdf)

Example of a Discharge Petition that Could Be Open for Signatures On Oct. 11 (pdf)

Steps to Reopen the Government through the “Open the Government” resolution