GOP threatens to shut down House over rules change

The Hill ^ | May 16, 2007 | J. Kucinich

[rface]

House Republicans Wednesday threatened to shut down House business by calling a series of procedural votes until the Democratic leadership assured them that rules governing key parliamentary procedures would go unchanged.

Republicans began their assault in the mid-afternoon after hearing that the Democratic leadership allegedly planned to change the germaneness rule......

[ snip ]

“This is an astonishing attempt by the majority leadership to duck accountability for tax-and-spend policies the American people do not want,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). “The majority leadership is gutting House rules that have been in place for 185 years so they can raise taxes and increase government spending without a vote. House Republicans will use every tool available to fight this abuse of power.”

A GOP leadership aide said, “We will bring down the House,” .... if the rule are changed, Republicans would continue to call the procedural votes and begin to thwart progress on the committee level as well.

[Spiff]

“This is an astonishing attempt by the majority leadership to duck accountability for tax-and-spend policies the American people do not want,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).

I don't want to defend the Democrats one bit, but when the Republicans in Congress have spent the last 6 years engaging in tax-and-spend policies unrivaled by the Democrats, they lack any moral or fiscal authority to now blame the Democrats for doing the same thing. I warned of this back when the Republicans held the majority and were spending like drunken sailors and it has now come to fruition. The Republicans in Congress, unfortunately, lack any credibility on this issue thanks to their own behavior.

[cubreporter]

:) nancy always looks like she is trying to be a fashion plate when they walk out to the microphones. She thinks (I think) she must be the cutes thing around. She grins like a chesser cat and acts so silly looking and very, very unprofessional. Just like her sister hillereeee. BOth of these women don’t have the presence required to have a position of importance or authority.

[A Strict Constructionist]

We have a friend who is in Iraq with the Army. He is an outstanding young man who believes in this country and what they are doing. “Professional” politicians only dream of being as professional and brave as our citizen soldiers. I guess that there are no Statesmen left...were they a figment of our imagination or did they only existed in Ozzie and Harriet land.

[Baladas]

Re: the entire article. What’s with “The Hill”? Look at who wrote this.