A Filibuster in the House?
EmailABC's Jonathan Karl reports: Filibusters – the art of talking a bill to death — are done in the Senate, but tonight Republican House Leader John Boehner is attempting a filibuster in the House. Just as the House was set tovote on the climate/energy bill, a top priority of President Obama, Boehner took to the House floor and began to read a 309-page “managers’ amendment” released by Democrats at 3am Friday morning. “I hate to do this to you,” Boehner said, “but when you file an amendment at 3:05 a.m., I think we ought to understand what is in it.” Normally, time for debate is strictly limited in the House, but by tradition the House allows party leaders to speak before going to a final vote. Boehner is using his time to read, and make comments on, the entire 309-page amendment. A frustrated Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chief sponsor of the bill, attempted to cut Boehner off but was unsuccessful. Boehner’s gambit puts the timing of the vote in question, but not the outcome. Democrats, after a 48-hour, full-court press say they now have the votes to pass the bill. Getting the votes hasn’t been easy. Democrats even brought Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) out of rehab to be present for the vote. Kennedy, who has battled drug addiction, checked himself into rehab two weeks ago.
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As usual, Boehner is busy obstructing getting the peoples work done!
Posted by: Try the truth | June 26, 2009, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
As usual democrats are trying to ruin this country.
Posted by: try using your brain | June 26, 2009, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
What a joke. They bring someone out of rehab to vote on a bill that will affect the lives of every American? This is too much.
Where is the “change” I believed in?
Posted by: Cassandra Washington | June 26, 2009, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm
Boehner:”when you file an amendment at 3:05 a.m., I think we ought to understand what is in it.”
6 hours to get through a 300 page amendment – with a staff of a few dozen that should be a cake walk. And it’s not like this is all never before seen stuff either.
Posted by: jhw539 | June 26, 2009, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
DID ANYONE NOTICE THAT DEMOCRATS SPEAK OF “NEW JOBS”, NOT “ADDITIONAL JOBS!” THESE PEOPLE ARE TRULY THE NEW MASTERS OF DECEIT!! IMPENDING DISASTER FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND ADDITIONAL TAXES FOR ALL. AND FOR WHAT???? SOLAR AND WIND POWER IN TWENTY YEARS THAT MIGHT PRODUCE 15 – 20 PERCENT OF OUR ENERGY NEEDS!!! WHAT IDIOTS WE HAVE ELECTED.
Posted by: Jimbo | June 26, 2009, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
RE; Try using your brain—–your looking at the change!!! Obama promised a change but most did not expect this kind of change I bet!
Posted by: paul white | June 26, 2009, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
The Dems just got lucky that’s all. If Boehner hadn’t had to stop for a smoke, you would STILL be waiting for him to shut up.
Posted by: Clint | June 26, 2009, 10:26 pm 10:26 pm
Clint, I heard he stopped talking cause he was gonna be late for his tanning bed appointment.
Posted by: Trent | June 26, 2009, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
“The Dems just got lucky that’s all. If Boehner hadn’t had to stop for a smoke, you would STILL be waiting for him to shut up.”
Posted by: Clint | Jun 26, 2009 10:26:13 PM
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Hahahaha! You actually made me laugh. Boy, I’ll tell ya, these republicans might be losing but they sure know how to make drama. No wonder they dominated the 90′s and early 2000′s. I think they will be back on top because they shout loudest, and you all know we’re leaving in a society where the loudest voices win.
Posted by: David | June 26, 2009, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
A fact I found on the net which to me is the biggest item the government should be working on, not Cap & Trade, not healthcare, but reducing the government debt. ++++++++ “Under current law,” said the Congressional Budget Office in its long-term budget outlook, released late last week, “the federal budget is on an unsustainable path — meaning that federal debt will continue to grow much faster than the economy over the long run.”
Posted by: Sandcrab1612 | June 27, 2009, 12:47 am 12:47 am
David wrote: “Boy, I’ll tell ya, these republicans might be losing but they sure know how to make drama”.
I think it’s gonna be a long dry spell for the Reps. Most people are tired of the drama queen antics of the GOP.
Posted by: Clint | June 27, 2009, 7:05 am 7:05 am
I think that everyone wants change in regards to “clean air” .The part that I don’t understand is that at a time when this country is reeling with unemployment,budget cuts,bankruptcy and foreclosures we are talking about drop kicking those who are already struggling to make it financially and overwhelming them with further woes in the name of a climate/energy tax . It doesn’t take a genius to figure that this is poor timing at best .One thing is clear,the partisan backbiting among people on these blogs needs to stop if we are ever to unify as one people . We need to look at the whole picture. I feel that Obama is doing his best, that is not to say I agree with him on all issues, but I believe that he sees the big picture and support him accordingly.
Posted by: CaliChico | June 27, 2009, 10:48 am 10:48 am
CaliChico | Jun 27, 2009 10:48:04 AM=======
I pretty much agree with everything you’ve written. Where I differ is when it comes not doing too much because of the timing. I think it’s rather courageous of the President to want to tackle these issues right now. The problem is, even when you hear people say we have to focus on bringing back the economy first tackling other issues, we all know what’s going to happen when we get to our comfort level.
Once the economy is back in shape, you’ll have the righteous ones proclaiming how they will bring honor to the presidency, and then everything else falls on wayside. Believe you me, if we don’t do these things now we’ll be talking about them again in 50 years.
Posted by: David | June 27, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
Great !! They have to bring a drug adict, Kennedy ( no surprise here ) to put the muscle on the inquiring party. These thieves are passing bills at our expense. They don’t care, they have their fat checks and health care.It is the blue collar worker that ends up on the vise.Wake up America , we are not better off than the last administration.
Posted by: Frank | June 27, 2009, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
Hadn’t thought of it this way before but the Tan One did a public service by reading the whole amendment. While it appeared as a delaying tactic, I think Boehner had a point. When you lay out a 300 page amendment at 3 AM, its not a bad idea to walk through it pretty thoroughly before you vote on it.
Yes, these things are prepared by staff and counsel. Yes most, if not all of it has been discussed in committee and on the floor.
But still. I support the notion behind this legislation strongly. I have worked in campaigns, as a staffer and as a private lobbyist for a combined total of 50 years. I have experienced over and over the appearance of some unexpected legislative additions through both accident and malice in late, massive redrafts.
So, as “Smokin John” said, probably not a bad idea.
Posted by: Mickey | June 28, 2009, 9:25 am 9:25 am
The Democrats are a joke and everyone knows it,all they know is Tax and Spend and now they have added a new wrinkle,it’s Tax and Spend and Borrow.
Posted by: Johnny L | June 28, 2009, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm
It’s all said and done now, thanks to 8 irresponsible Republican who voted with the Democrats. I wonder what kind of bribe or threat the White House used on Mary Bono Mack (CA), Michael Castle (CT), Mark Kirk (IL), Leonard Lance (NJ), Frank LoBiondo (NJ), John McHugh (NY), David Reichert (WA), and Chris Smith (NJ).
Posted by: Ray Dio | June 29, 2009, 9:50 am 9:50 am