Drama erupts on House floor as conservative budget goes down

[ProSense]

Source: The Hill

House lawmakers defeated a proposal by conservative Republicans to make deeper cuts to spending and tax rates than those proposed in the Republican budget, but only after last-minute maneuvering by Democrats on the House floor.

In a chaotic scene characterized by shouting more typical of the British parliament, the Republican Study Committee's (RSC) alternative to Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) 2012 budget went down in a 119-136 vote.

It was gaveled shut only after Democratic leaders started pushing members to switch their "no" votes to "present," in order to force a face-off between conservatives and the Republican leadership. A total of 176 lawmakers voted "present."

<...>

Members of the Republican leadership flipped their votes in the closing moments of the proposal to help fell the proposal. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) switched her vote from yes to no at the last minute, as did Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.), the chairman of the House Rules Committee.



Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/156329-drama-erupts-on-house-floor-in-vote-over-conservatives-budget

[Aerows]

1. OH man

Politicians HATE it when they have to be held accountable for their votes. Nice move by the Democrats.

[savalez]

24. Pandemonium!

Here's another story about it:

Pandemonium! Dems Jam Republicans With Even More Conservative Budget

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/pandemonium-dems-jam-panic-republicans-with-even-more-conservative-budget.php?ref=fpa

[2banon]

48. well, this was fun but the House voted again and passed it

fun friday distraction from my difficult realities of the day..

[savalez]

70. Incorrect.

This vote was on the Republican Study Committee's alternative to the Ryan budget.

[tblue37]

51. Could it be? Is it possible that the Dem leadership is developing a sense of

how things play politically?

[Scuba]

2. Can anyone explain that to those of us who are not Constituional Lawyers???

[notadmblnd]

5. easier to understand explanation here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x898288

[DCKit]

9. Had all the (D)s voted "NO", the Republics could have saved some face...

for their teabaggin' constituents, claiming the mean Democratics didn't let them do the will of teh peoples. This way, they had to go on record voting "No", on their own.

A bit of a risk, in my book, but well played (but only since it succeeded).

[Snoutport]

21. the senate would have knocked it down. good play dems.

[DCKit]

27. That realization came too late for the post.

But thanks for the correction. It's an important point.

[kenfrequed]

52. Even better...

The repubs will now have to vote on this bill prior to a full week news cycle rather than trying to bury the vote on Friday.

[patrice]

69. The TPM article explains it nicely. It amounts to: "Present" is neither a yes nor a no, so it isn't

counted in whether a measure succeeds or not, when Dems began switching from "No" to "Present", Republicans who were making token votes by voting "Yes" in order to look tough, but expecting the measure to fail because of Dem "No"s, were face with the possibility that the measure would pass (with fewer Nos ((because of the new present votes) than they had counted on) with what had been their token "Yes"s and then they'd have to pay politically for going against Ryan's proposal & ALSO pay for the negative effects upon their constituents back home.

A significant number of the Yeses were political theater, token votes, and the Dems called their bluff by switching to Present votes.

[Ian David]

3. Bloody fucking BRILLIANT! We're finally playing GOP-Style political theater HARD BALL! n/t

[savalez]

26. +1, I hope there's more of this.

[louis-t]

46. It's certainly getting easier for Dems to do this.

Stupid repugs are tripping all over themselves.

[ladywnch]

28. +1

[Kablooie]

God we need more of this.

[Ian David]

90. You can say THAT again. n/t

[Kablooie]

77. God we need more of this.

[Ian David]

91. I didn't mean LITERALLY. n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Did you read what the RSC's plan was like? Who could believe anything could be worse than Ryan's.

[notadmblnd]

7. And a majority of pukes were going for it!

If they hadn't changed their votes to no at the last minute, Ryan's face would be red and stinging now. His own party would have given him something to really cry about.

[notesdev]

6. Good!

Make people vote where they really stand. Put them on the record and let the voters decide who is more true to the will of the people.

[Akoto]

8. Ha! That's great. Excellent move by the Dems. Also, love the comments for that article.

Talk about bitterness.

[Kingofalldems]

10. K and R all threads freepers will hate

[Kingofalldems]

11. Dupe

[Historic NY]

12. In their face...thats the play of the day. It does expose them as to who's side their one.

[monmouth]

13. Did you read where Huntsman regards POTUS as a

[cate94]

14. K & R

[Zorro]

15. Lots of disturbances from the gallery

Threatening to clear the entire gallery now.

[Peregrine Took]

16. Sounds wonderful - is there any video? n/t

[xchrom]

17. recommend

[Wait Wut]

18. What a perfect start to the weekend!

:bounce:

[leftynyc]

19. I very simply LOVE this story

No way any Democrat should help provide cover for the reps. They want extremism, let them own it.

[ProSense]

20. Video

Via Think Progress: Democratic Procedural Move Forces Republicans To Vote Down Their Own Crazy Budget Proposal

[Sabriel]

38. Watch the video! Fun, fun. n/t

[2banon]

44. this was fun to read... but I'm still confused..

there was a mention in the comments that daily kos posted the bill passed. :shrug:

[gateley]

82. I think they may be referring to two different bills. The Baggers' and Ryan's. Ryan's

passed because all the Reps voted for it. This one was the Baggers' Bill.

[No Elephants]

22. YES!

[Uncle Joe]

23. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, ProSense.

[lumberjack_jeff]

25. What? You mean you're actually going to make me shoot the hostages?

"No fair!"

I love it. Make these jackasses behave like grownups.

[CreekDog]

29. Wait, I think I'm reading this wrong --Democrats were acting strategic?

to embarass Republicans?

and it actually worked?

:wtf:

:rofl:

:applause:

[Plucketeer]

30. Too fricki' cool!!!!

Make the Rethugs eat their own gruel.

[ladywnch]

31. that's just plain funny right there, I don't care who the hell you are, that's just plain funny

[KamaAina]

32. McMorris Rodgers is a member of that critically endangered species, the moderate (R)

We've actually been able to work with her on disability issues, for instance.

[Kingofalldems]

33. Kick this to the top

I don't care about Ron Paul's son

[Mnemosyne]

34. Sure, when I can't watch C-span anymore, then they grow some cahones! Great to hear! K&R n/t

[LiberalEsto]

35. I have a new respect for Rep. Steny Hoyer now

I'm from Maryland, but not from his district, and I always thought he was too quiet.

:woohoo:

[Adsos Letter]

36. KAYYYYY AND ARRRGGGHHH!!!

:rofl:

[whosinpower]

37. Freepers are flipping out in freepville

Too funny!

[craigmatic]

54. link please. I need a laugh

[whosinpower]

71. here ya go

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2705467/posts

snip - Republicans need to wake up and understand that Democrats will do anything legal OR illegal, unethical, or immoral to thwart responsible government.

Simply put, they despise the notion of a successful, prosperous citizenry that is not utterly dependent upon them.


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...DEMOCRATS VOTE PRESENT WHICH FORCES REPUBLICANS TO CHANGE THEIR VOTES.....AND THIS IS THWARTING RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT?!?

SNIP - We expect the dims to be evil and conniving... but our leadership is in bed with the dims... corrupt and evil...they are one in the same. everyone that voted with the dims on this hates America and hates tax paying patriots. Damn them all to hell.

SNORT - GIGGLE....

SNIP - Forget what is good for the nation or We the People. These idiotic simpletons instead chose to act like little spoiled brats who did not get their way and instead threw a tantrum by voting “present”. As far as I am concerned, if vote “present” on ANYTHING, you should lose your vote. Plain and simple, end of story.

Pathetic, just eff’n PATHETIC.


PUNKED BUT GOOD!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHA

[louslobbs]

39. It's about time we are playing on the court effecting the game rather than sitting in the stands

having no effect on the game as the other team lies, cheats and steals to win. Very nice play Democratic players, looks like you ran the Thugs all over the court. In life, that's the way it is, you are either sitting in the stands shouting, effecting nothing, or on the court, playing the game and effecting the outcome. The Thugs can dish it out, but the little wankers sure can't take it lol.
Lou

[Meldread]

40. Awesome! Finally! The Democrats do something worth praising!

Congratulations, Democrats. You've just committed politics. Feels good, doesn't it?

:thumbsup:

[Johnny2X2X]

41. Brilliant move

I would have rather that they passed it though and gone on record as wanting to end Medicare. It's an extremist Budget and they would have looked extreme and way out there. As it played out they are shown for being being cowards who lacked the courage of their words.

[glowing]

47. Those who did vote for the bill are now on record for supporting

ending ss and medicare.. How do you think that will play back in their districts when their challenger is throwing up commercials? Most of these extremists come from regions that normally are very dependent on govt.. They are convinced to vote against their own interests.

[tcaudilllg]

60. They (the Dems) have been holding back for just this moment.

[Historic NY]

76. Amazing isn't ...after complaining about Dems ramming health care

through the Pukes vote to make the largest change in health care since Medicare was created with almost no discussion or debate.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

87. Excellent point.

[harun]

42. Good work Dem's!

[zalinda]

43. It's about time!

Maybe they figured out that they will need to run as something other than, "we're not as bad", in 2012.

zalinda

[louis-t]

45. Love the photo of Pelosi and Boner.

She has that look on her face like "Why don't you take that stupid gavel and shove it right up yer ass?" Repugs will NEVER have a 'balanced budget'. Their ideology forbids it. They'll be forever stuck with the 'theory' that bringing in less revenue creates more revenue. :crazy:

[progressoid]

49. sniff sniff. What's that I smell?

Schadenfreude? :evilgrin:

[maddogesq]

56. I hate to keep repeating my old mantra, but...

I LOVE THE SMELL OF REPUB SELF-MUTILATION IN THE MORNING. :)

[eowyn_of_rohan]

50. Brilliant Tactic

this is getting exciting...

[craigmatic]

53. If this was a parlimentary system boner would be out.

[Harriety]

55. I like this

[AlbertCat]

57. He he he he....Ha ha ha ha...

You just know they hate it when there is "maneuvering by Democrats".

Hey! Only Conservatives are suppose to maneuver!

[Zoigal]

58. Read on MSNBC where the bill passed...please will someone clarify.....z

[Brother Buzz]

62. Paul Ryan's bill passed the House

It stands virtually no chance of passing the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats who oppose the bill.

[alcibiades_mystery]

73. I'll explain

There were essentially two bills:

1. Ryan's bill as he designed it
2. The Republican Study Committee (RSC) amendment, which is much more conservative than even Ryan's bill

The vote here was on #2, the RSC amendment. It is so radical and politically toxic that anyone apart from the real teabagger fanatics can't stomach it. But the GOPers put it up anyway, so that some of their moderate members could vote for it, while they expected enough Dems and GOP to vote together to defeat it. Only the radical teabaggers want it: the majority of Republicans know they can't get re-elected if they vote for that mess. So, what happened.

Instead of voting "NO," the Dems voted "Present." This essentially forced the Republicans to defeat their own RSC amendment, and admit in public that it is too radical for even their own liking. Rather than having cover of the Dems, they have to now go back and explain to their freeper and radical teabagger supporters why they opposed this amendment.

After the defeat of the Republican amendment by Republicans (hahahaha), they then voted to pass #1, the Ryan budget. It doesn't really matter, however, since that bill will never pass the Senate, and Obama would veto it even if it did. The point is that the GOP is playing silly little games, but this time, they're the ones who got played.

[TomClash]

59. Donkey Kick! The President could learn a lesson from . . .

. . . Nancy Pelosi's tactics. This is payback for all the shit she took from Cantor and other Teaheads when she was Speaker.

Good for her! :kick:

[LanternWaste]

61. This was a beautiful thing...

This was a beautiful thing to watch. :P

[florida08]

63. now that's playing chess

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb_-BiCIheA&feature=related

[Hosnon]

64. Spectacular! nt.

[Judi Lynn]

65. K & R. Thank you, ProSense. n/t

[Imperialism Inc.]

66. What is really funny is reading some of the comments on thehill site.

Some Republicans are spittin' mad and calling the Democrats cowards and unwilling to take a stand. They apparently lack basic reasoning skills. None of the Dems were actually going to vote for it. On the other hand, some of the Republicans wanted to pretend like they wanted it to pass and blame the failure to do so on the Dems. This exposed them.

[indimuse]

67. HUGE KNR!! nt

[BumRushDaShow]

68. K&R!!!

Touche! :rofl:

[Jefferson23]

72. Music to my ears...very well done. n/t

[Liberalynn]

74. Great Job House Dems

Now the Senate Dems and the President just have to shred Ryan's bill into teeny tiny bits of nothing , and protect Medicare (i.e. no voucher system) at all costs and I will be even happier.

I really want to trust them but the willingness to compromise with the Pukes that they have demonstrated up to this point has me a little worried, as a Disabled SSD and Medicare recipient.

[RoccoR5955]

75. This is what happens when they put a Boner in a leadership position! n/t

[unkachuck]

78. K&R....beautiful....

....who on our side orchestrated this? Nancy? Whoever it was, deserves a big hug and kiss....keep up the good work!

[babylonsister]

85. Steny Hoyer...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x901811

[Guilded Lilly]

79. Verrrrry Interesssting...and brilliant!

[OwnedByFerrets]

80. I hope the Dems like the feeling of WINNING, for a change

[gateley]

81. E-Mail as many Dems as you can to tell them Well Played! We show our

support, they'll keep playing hardball. This is SO COOL!

[Odin2005]

83. BWAHAHAHAHA!!! That is utter PWNAGE.

[joshcryer]

84. This is amazing, omfg! So much win!

[PatSeg]

86. And now the republicans

will whine and accuse the Dems of "playing politics" instead of "doing the people's business", when they're trying so hard to be the grownups. They are so predictable!

[lonestarnot]

88. Now that is rich!

[PotatoChip]

89. Brilliantly Played!

:kick: