If you're wondering why the Senate is sitting on its hands right now, this is why...

[WilliamPitt]

"There's an arcane procedural reason the Senate is waiting. If it were to advance its own bill through the normal channels, stalling tactics expected to be used by arch-conservatives like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) could delay passage until the weekend. But if the House were to pass a debt limit hike first, the Senate could declare the measure 'privileged' and advance it quickly, possibly by amending it and sending it back. 'We're sitting tight and prepping both options and will see what happens over there this afternoon,' said a senior Democratic Senate aide."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/senate-hits-brakes-debt-deal-as-congress-looks-over-the-cliff

[scheming daemons]

1. Exactly.... and the latest House proposal is a win for us

Clean CR
Clear DL increase
Vitter Rule


And since the Vitter Rule is clearly unconstitutional, I say take the deal.... and then get the Vitter rule removed by the courts.


Congressional staffers take a hit for a few months.... but that's a small price to pay to save the rest of the country.

[Blue Owl]

4. The Vitter Rule -- a.k.a. The Diaper Decree

n/t

[mindwalker_i]

5. That's just a crappy thing to say

[silvershadow]

15. If nothing else, Vitter is all shits and giggles (if you're into that). nt

[awoke_in_2003]

19. do you need a Huggies?

[Chipper Chat]

23. I prefer the "TEDna Twist"

for the front that is.

[awoke_in_2003]

26. well, aren't you Pampered...

[Chipper Chat]

27. just Cruzin for a brusin

'specially if I squeeze the GOP Charmin.

[Berlum]

8. The Republicon Diaper Decree is right out of the

Diaper Dominionist (R) playbook.

[klook]

10. Haha, great minds

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023852625#post3

[Blue Owl]

11. Bwah!

[jeff47]

6. The Vitter rule is only unconstitutional until 2015.

Then it will mean staffers making $30k/year paying for health insurance with no "employer contribution", no subsidies and no Medicaid. And it could not be corrected until 2017.

[scheming daemons]

7. There would be a whole year (and a new congress) to correct it.

[jeff47]

9. No, the new Congress starts in 2015, when the law takes effect.

And since each Congress can not alter its own compensation, any correction can not happen until the Congress after that starts, in 2017.

This would be the teabagger's only victory in this shutdown. There's no way in hell it would be repealed before the 2015 Congress.

[RKP5637]

2. Thanks for posting this info.!

[rhett o rick]

3. k&r thanks for posting. nm

[Tx4obama]

12. Kick! n/t

[Tx4obama]

13. So, now what? The House is not going to vote on the House bill

So, what happens now regarding the Senate?

[Laelth]

14. This is starting to feel like well-orchestrated theater.

I am not amused.

-Laelth

[blkmusclmachine]

16. Republican Economic Terrorism. (my k&r statement for the day)

[Buddha_of_Wisdom]

17. Past time to expel Cruz from the Senate

so it can conduct its business without the asshole.

[KoKo]

18. It's the SAME OLD SONG...we've seen it before. At least we aren't

reduced to doing "C-Span Threads." Remember those days when we were INNOCENT.

[el scorcho]

20. Vitter rule?

Can someone please explain to me the logic of denying congressional staffers ACA benefits? OK.. maybe logic is the wrong term... I'm just not understanding what they get from this.

[wiggs]

21. We should stop pretending that the current crop of

GOP nuts and those that humor them are trying to solve any real problem other than aggrandizing their own agenda of 'taking their country back'. Unless leadership members from both parties and in both houses are on top of their games politically and procedurally, there are enough nuts supported by enough money and enough media to cause major damage to the economy, government, and to anyone brave enough to stop them (impeachment included).

We should stop pretending this fevered, desperate group is here to govern.

[Tx4obama]

22. Kick! n/t

[robinlynne]

24. I have been wondering, rather loudly. Thanks for explaining.

[Sunlei]

25. why do republicans want to hurt their 'congressional staffers' is that some kind of punishment?