U.S. House backs waiver allowing Mattis to serve as defense secretary

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday cleared the way for quick confirmation of James Mattis to serve as President-elect Donald Trump's secretary of defense, backing a waiver that will allow him to serve less than seven years after retiring from active duty as a Marine General in 2013.

The House voted 268 to 151, largely along party lines, for a one-time waiver of a provision of a law on civilian control of the U.S. military that requires a seven-year wait after retirement before active-duty military can lead the Department of Defense.

The waiver, which must still be signed by the president to become law, clears the way for Mattis to lead the Pentagon if he is confirmed, as expected, by the Senate.

The Senate passed the waiver on Thursday by 81-17.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-mattis-waiver-idUSKBN14X2G6

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POLITICS | Fri Jan 13, 2017 | 5:40pm EST
By Patricia Zengerle | WASHINGTON

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Water it down

Rules don't matter for the Republicans

[TeamPooka]

2. So much for norms and rules . Looks like Democrats won't be filibustering anything

If you can't stop something blatantly against the law, the law there for a huge reason, then nothing will be stopped.

[YOHABLO]

3. So which Dems crossed over?

[ProudLib72]

4. At this point

I am going to say that the Mattis pick is ok. I'm not super happy about it, but it could be a hell of a lot worse. And, yes, I get that the whole waiver thing is setting a dangerous precedent.

[TrekLuver]

6. Me too....he is the best of the lot. If there was any time that we really needed a waiver

this is it. A dangerous precedent needs to be set for this very dangerous time.

[Mc Mike]

5. Another rule shattered by the repugs. Truly radical revolutionaries.

And Mad Dog is the best of the whole dRumpfenfuhrer bunch. We're supposed to be pleased that there will be one "adult" in the admin.

[NBachers]

7. "Who cares if it's against the law? We'll let him do it anyway."