Posted on 11/18/2010 5:46:58 AM PST by rabscuttle385
Much has been written about the House GOP Leadership’s plan to ban earmarks for two years. The praise they have received from conservatives is justified, because it seems, at least for the time being, that their proposed moratorium doesn’t have the weaselly wiggle-room sometimes employed by politicians. It is also likely that their stance pushed former earmarker-extraordinaire Sen. Mitch McConnell into supporting a similar ban in the Senate. Who knew the ‘road to Damascus’ veered past the Potomac?
So far, so good. The ban on earmarks may be largely symbolic as it won’t, on its own, lower federal spending, but symbols are important. They only take you so far, however. While House GOP Leadership have tipped their hats to the tea party movement with the earmark ban, other actions they are taking this week behind the scenes will neuter the movement and consign the incoming freshman to the back of the Congressional bus.
This week, the GOP caucus will finalize committee assignments. Committees are the workshops of Congress, where legislation is debated, tweaked and finalized. Legislation emerging from committees is the legislation that comes to the House floor for a vote. (The Democrats by-passed this process, but the GOP is expected to return to committees to their traditional legislative function.)
But, not all committees are created equal. The House has a group of committees called the “A” committees, through which all significant legislation must pass. These committees are so powerful, there is even a limit on how many of these committees a member may serve.
Big Government has learned that the House GOP Leadership has made it clear; no freshmen need apply for these committees. They are reserving them for the existing members, thank you very much.
(Excerpt) Read more at biggovernment.com ...
“House GOP Leadership has made it clear; no freshmen need apply for these committees. They are reserving them for the existing members, thank you very much.”
I am shocked you were expecting anything different.
This sez the GOP still doesn't get it!
1. More the Tea Party breaks off and starts its own party, thereby taking seats from the GOP and putting the Rats back in power.
2. The Tea Party continues to make inroads into the GOP and eventually the career politicians are all voted out.
Perhaps the newly elected TEA Party members should have their own tea party on the floor of the House.
The GOP should remember that they are on probation.
I am not overly alarmed with every little story meant to discourage us. I will hold judgement until the first GOP budget comes out and see how they handle the media and Democrats.
If nothing else, the GOP House needs to recognize that about 60% of the tea party efforts are going to be in primary season, and if these turds do proceed with business as usual, we’ll be running highly qualified primary challenges in 18 months.
Like I said in a previous post, The Establishment Ruling Class will not let go for any reason, All this week they have been telling freshmen congressmen how they will act and what they will do, mainly sit down and shut up. Unless the incoming freshmen form their own caucus, call it the freshmen caucus, and then pool their votes into 1 VOTING BLOCK, vowing to defeat ALL LEGISLATION unless they be given a voice and a chance to put forth amendments and REAL LEGISLATION aimed at Liberty for the People.. I really don’t see any other way til 2 years from now when we throw out more bums. Believe it or not, the Freshmen Class really does have considerable power if they choose to use it.
Will the freshmen be invited to sit in on these Committees ask questions and offer objections or suggestions?
Kristin Noem and Tim Scott have been given leadership positions by Boehner- just not Committee Chairs.
Committee Offices
•Committee on Agriculture
•Committee on Appropriations
•Committee on Armed Services
•Committee on the Budget
•Committee on Education and Labor
•Committee on Energy and Commerce
•Committee on Financial Services
•Committee on Foreign Affairs
•Committee on Homeland Security
•Committee on House Administration
•Committee on the Judiciary
•Committee on Natural Resources
•Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
•Committee on Rules
•Committee on Science and Technology
•Committee on Small Business
•Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
•Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
•Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
•Committee on Ways and Means
•Joint Economic Committee
•Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
•Joint Committee on Taxation
•House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
•House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
I never agreed with people who said that we are stuck with a two-party system. Are the Federalists and the Whigs still around? No. Is the old Democratic-Republican Party still around. Yeah, but it split in two. Change happens.
"Reviewing the list of “A” committees, you can readily see the implications. Appropriations, Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Financial Services and Rules are all “A” committees."
IMHO, these limited slots will be filled by conservatives who are incumbents with great voting records too. Just because they are in Congress already doesn't mean they are any less conservative than the incoming freshman. Michelle Bachmann is an incumbent. Hello?
"The 80+ GOP members just elected will have no voice in any of the debates about spending, taxes, entitlements, bailouts or health care."
No voice?! You can't be serious. This is a flat-out lie with the only intention of creating divisiveness where there should be none.
They won’t “let go”, but we can step on their fingers.
WHY?.. because of the 2012 primarys...
The TpCaucus is in the Cat Bird seat... and will provide candidates..
They know THAT..... the TpCaucus IS WATCHING THEM...
AND is growing stronger by the day...
This is precisely the opposite of what other outlets are reporting.
•House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
Delete...
•House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
Delete...
What do conservatives expect? While conservative websites and media are being distracted by trivia, the important things in DC are being conducted under the radar. While all of the attention and energy is being channeled into robosigning and nudie scanner minutiae, Congress is setting up to conduct business as usual and the budget of the United States remains in crash mode.
It’s not that complicated. We are getting the governance that we are demanding, and right now the demands are breathtakingly silly.
I’ve basically thrown in the towel for the next month or so until the hair that is on fire burns itself out. The tea party is self-immolating and expending its energy on junk.
Taking names for the next round to rid the party of RINOs/apeasers!
•Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
•Committee on Rules
•Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
From further down in the article: “To be fair, it has been traditionally tough for freshmen to win slots on these committees, as these positions are highly competitive.”
Nothing new. The ones with the most seniority get the most powerful seats.
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