Boehner to Pelosi: “Every Member Should Stand Before the American People and Announce Vote”

GOPLeader.gov ^ | 3/19/2010 | John Boehner

[SeattleBruce]

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) requesting that the final health care votes be recorded by “call of the roll” so that every lawmaker is required to publicly announce their vote on the House floor.

“This weekend’s votes will be among the most consequential votes we will ever cast as Members of Congress,” Boehner says in the letter to Speaker Pelosi. “As such, it is my belief that every Member should stand before the American people and announce his or her vote as the final decision is made.”

According to the rules of the House of Representatives, “Unless the Speaker directs otherwise, the Clerk shall conduct a record vote or quorum call by electronic device. … The Speaker may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call by call of the roll. In such a case the Clerk shall call the names of Members, alphabetically by surname.”

The full text of Leader Boehner’s letter to Speaker Pelosi follows.

[Quix]

It’s in the right direction.

A bit wimpy to call it “tough,” imho.

The whole of the GOP COULD MORE OR LESS DEMAND A ROLE CALL, imho.

[wildandcrazyrussian]

In answer to the first question: No, the GOP is not getting tough. Note that Minority Leader Boehner “requests” a roll call vote. What he should do is get 87 or more Republicans (20% of the current House membership) and DEMAND this under the Constitution (Article I, Section 5, par. 3) and threaten immediate action to prevent an unlawful violation of the Constitution if the DEMAND is refused.

[wildandcrazyrussian]

It’s great that you’re pro-life but if you think Congress passed Roe v. Wade, you need to study history more. Hint: the “v.” in Roe v. Wade is Latin word “versus” meaning “against”, and means a LAWSUIT of an anonymous woman “Jane Roe” against Wade, the Attorney general of Texas at the time. That is, it was a COURT CASE, which the SUPREME COURT decided. It was not a law ever voted on by Congress or anyone.

[harpo11]

If this ass of a health care bill is so wonderful, good, and beyond any of our dreams kind of law, why are the sniveling conniving crooked yellow bellied cowardly jackass democrats so afraid of publically and proudly proclaiming their YES Vote?

[pillut48]

Perfect ammunition for commercials come election time, too!

[pennboricua]

As the Minority Leader he controls a certain amount of time on the floor, he can therefore start with a statement that he is voting against the bill, and that all the Republican members are being given time to give their opinion on the bill.

[JLLH]

She won’t. Ultimately the Republicans are putting the Dems on notice that they cannot hide from this because the Republicans will continually publicize exactly what has happened: every vote, every swarmy deal, every vote-buying strategy, all will be laid bare up through November and into 2012. We will NOT forget!!

[Cboldt]

-- The GOP can't force this. It's totally up to Pelosi on this one as she's the only one empowered under House rules to make it a roll-call vote. This was more of a publicity stunt in requesting this. --

I agree, but many people will not notice or realize that the letter (and your comment) amounts to asking for the difference between "yeas and nays via electronic device" and "yeas and nays via roll call."

[daniel885]

"I believe the Constitution supersedes the Speaker of the House, and Pelosi's refusal to honor the request of the 20%+ for a roll call vote by name can and should cause an immediate Constitutional crisis." The constitution does not require an actual call of the roll at the request of 1/5 of the members, it requires a recorded vote of the yeas and nays which is done by an electronic vote counter. If you notice when a member requests a recorded device, the Chair will ask members to stand if they agree (second) the motion for a recorded vote. The second of 44 members is required for a recorded vote (1/5 of the minimum quorum of the House 218 members). Sorry, on this one they cannot force a call of the roll. They can (and should) make a point of order on the Rule that the rule cannot deem a bill passed because of Constitutional restrictions. The Chair will overrule the Point of Order but it can be appealed and the GOP can force a vote on that -- another tough vote.

[Eagle Eye]

So make a commercial with each Republican and anyone else willing to publicly state they are not voting for the bill.

Then challenge the others to publicly state they voted for it.

Then name the names of those who wouldn’t take a public stand.

[kittykat77]

That’s a wonderful idea. It is a historic moment, and it will be great to have video of each representative declaring firmly “Yea” or “Nay.” (I don’t know how good the C-SPAN audio and video will be; maybe they’ll set up some extra cameras.)

Rather than the usual 15-minute electronic vote, it will take a lot longer for 435 members to be polled, so unless there’s a really hot NCAA basketball game or NASCAR race on at the same time, a lot of the nation will be tuned in.

And I’m sure the videoclips will be used in campaign ads for the next generation — which is also fine.

[daniel885]

"As the Minority Leader he controls a certain amount of time on the floor, he can therefore start with a statement that he is voting against the bill, and that all the Republican members are being given time to give their opinion on the bill." By tradition, the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and Minority Leader are given a "magic minute" to speak where the Chair does not enforce time limits. This time cannot be yielded to other members however. Boehner did "filibuster" the Climate bill last year, however, and the Chair made a ruling on the advice of the Parliamentarian that the Leader could not be cut off. Thus, you are correct that Boehner would have unlimited time to speak but unfortunately he cannot yield time to other members.

[mojitojoe]

[pennboricua]

He can however be asked questions by other Republican members and he can ask questions in return.
For instance “Had you been allowed to cast a vote would it have been yes?”

[varon]

Boehner to Pelosi: “Every Member Should Stand Before the American People and Announce Vote”

If that were to happen, it would be the biggest political "coming out of the closet" political event in history as 215+ Democrats reveal that they are actually Socialists or Communists.

[Jazz1968]

Boehner to Pelosi: “Every Member Should Stand Before the American People and Announce Vote”

AMEN!

[daniel885]

"He can however be asked questions by other Republican members and he can ask questions in return. For instance “Had you been allowed to cast a vote would it have been yes?” Actually, no. In order to ask a question a member must be yielded time for the purpose of asking a question. I see where you're getting at but I can't think of a way to make it happen under the rules with an adversarial Chair who is going to not give any leeway to a Republican. Now a Democrat would probably be able to get away with that... But good thinking... there are some parliamentary tricks that can be employed but nothing that can ultimately delay a vote too long. The GOP could require recorded votes on every simple motion and make points of order which are subject to votes (before the rule is passed -- once the rule is passed Democrats will probably include a provision that all points of order are waived). Also, the magic minute can be used once on the rule and once again on the underlying legislation.

[Ezekiel]

As of March 18th, the 111th Congress has been responsible for 147 public laws:

http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/d111laws.html

According to the Talmud, the three Patriarchs of the Jewish people-- Abraham (1813-1638 BCE), Isaac (1713-1533 BCE) and Jacob (1653-1506 BCE)--all were born and passed away in the month of Nissan.

http://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day_cdo/aid/149883/jewish/Nissan-1.htm

Interesting,

Genesis 47:28-29 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. 29 And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

[luvie]

He’s right...but it will never happen! Good for him for trying, though!

[GVnana]

Just keep holding the Dems feet to the fire. Then drag them through the mud!