Breaking: Reid Yanks Defense Authorization Bill To Force GOP's Hand

TPM CAFE ^ | 7-18-07 | Greg Sargent

[tcrlaf]

Ratcheting up the stakes in the wake of the GOP's successful blocking of a vote on Iraq withdrawal just moments ago, Harry Reid just announced on the Senate floor that he won't allow a vote on the entire Defense Authorization bill until the Senate GOP drops its filibustering of votes on Iraq.

The move is significant because it could hold up the funding of the Pentagon's fiscal 2008 priorities until the standoff is resolved.

It comes only moments after the Republican filibuster succeeded in preventing a vote on the Reed-Levin amendment, which would have mandated withdrawal by April 2008.

Reid said:

I have temporarily laid aside the Defense Authorization bill and have entered a motion to reconsider.

But let me be clear to my Republican colleagues – I emphasize the word "temporarily". We will do everything in our power to change course in Iraq. We will do everything in our power to complete consideration of a Defense Authorization bill. We must do both.

And just to remind my Republican colleagues – even if this bill had passed yesterday, its provisions would not take effect until October.

So we will come back to this bill as soon as it is clear we can make real progress. To that end, I have asked the Democratic Whip and Democratic Manager of the bill to sit down with their counterparts to work on a process to address all outstanding issues related to this bill so the Senate can return to it as soon as possible.

What this means is that Reid isn't allowing any votes on any other Iraq amendments -- not the toothless Warner-Lugar amendment, not the Ken Salazar amendment that would force adoption of the Baker-Hamilton plan, nothing.

Fellow TPM reporter Spencer Ackerman also says that Reid's move is very significant in another way:

Because the Pentagon's priorities won't become law until a Defense Authorization bill is passed, the Pentagon's fiscal 08 priorities won't get funded until this standoff is resolved -- and Reid is insisting that won't happen until the GOP allows a vote on the Iraq withdrawal measures.

More soon.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

I’d like to know more of Reid’s corruption - we need to publicize it to the nth degree.....he tries to come across as this “mild mannered” quiet Senator....while he is the devil in disguise!

[Hoodat]

Let Us;  Vote . . .

=

. . . To Abandon Troops   In the Field!

Let Us;  Vote . . .

=

. . . To Abandon Troops   In the Field!

[BIGLOOK]

I woke this morning to some pretty good news.......The Dems lost sleep....and lost the cloture vote, news of al Mashdani (captured on the 4th of July) was providing intel (whether it was coerced, I could care less) and news that another Al Qaeda leader is toast.

Then I come home to this! This threat is hollow though....but it is an indicator of what is in store for Iraq and our support of a reasonable gov't in the future, should the dems hold congress and a dem is elected president. Shades of 1975.

[Bush gal in LA]

‘’HArry is a slimeball, how do we get rid of him?’’........Write a letter to Joe Leiberman.Tell him it’s time to switch his party affiliation from independent to the GOP! I CAN THINK OF NO OTHER WAY to shut up Dingy Harry and his party of traitors. Unless Leiberman switches we will be stuck with these jack asses and their treasonous friends until 2008!

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

What ever happened to hanging TRAITORS ?

[Merlinator]

I think FReepers should start a movement to fund the troops with private donations. It would embarrass the dems and the RINOs and we could tell old Harry to go F himself.

[scannell]

It looks to me that we could call this the Reid “Pocket Veto” of the Defense bill.........scannell

[Seadog Bytes]

Thanks!

[SunkenCiv]

Those losers he’s left behind should listen to him, he’s got Joementum. :’)

[SunkenCiv]

Nice touch.

[Thunder90]

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2007 was also attached to the thing...

[CyberAnt]

I’m concerned about your tag line .. if you’re talking about the WH - that building is NOT REAGANS .. it’s mine and yours.

If you don’t like Bush .. that’s fine .. but the WH has nothing to do with Reagan (except that he once occupied it).

[Beckwith]

I did as Fast suggests and after just a few Googled pages am awe struck at the machinations of Harry Reid.

I have just started a new website and will be adding a Harry Reid page — will get back to you guys.

[Beckwith]

Ratcheting up the stakes in the wake of the GOP's successful blocking of a vote on Iraq withdrawal just moments ago, Harry Reid just announced on the Senate floor that he won't allow a vote on the entire Defense Authorization bill until the Senate GOP drops its filibustering of votes on Iraq.

I'm confused (again)!

Harry is planning to uphold the Defense Authorization bill because the GOP is filibustering it -- I don't think so?

As I understand it, a filibuster is "an attempt to extend debate upon a proposal in order to delay or completely prevent a vote on its passage."

Wouldn't the GOP gladly vote on the Iraq Withdrawal measure because Harry hasn't got the votes for it to pass?

[Jim Noble]

It would be a tie and not a majority change. wouldn’t it? I believe so. Cheney breaks the tie. For about five minutes, then one of the liberal republicans will break to independent and caucus with the democrats.

Perhaps a Republican would defect, but they wouldn't need to.

The reason Jefford's defection in 2001 changed the structure of the Senate was that the majority Republicans agreed to, and passed, in advance, rules that specified a change in structure IF the majority changed.

This time around, the majority Democrats agreed to no such thing, and THEY passed rules that say, if the majority changes, all the RAT chairmen stay in power and the RAT leader retains control of the agenda.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Exactly. Also, the MSM portrayed the budget cuts as depriving children of school lunches. Sheesh

[davidlachnicht]

Rocky?

[finnman69]

Reid is shooting for single digit approval ratings.

[painter]

then one of the liberal republicans will break to independent and caucus with the democrats.

...and LOSE the next election!

[finnman69]

RealClearPolitics Poll Averages SM
Congressional Job Approval

Date Approve Disapprove Spread
RCP Average 06/11 - 07/11 25.0% 66.0% -41.0%