GOP Forces House Democrats To Pull DC Voting Bill

[Laura PourMeADrink]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0307/GOP_Forces_House_Democrats_To_Pull_DC_Voting_Bill.html

March 22, 2007

GOP Forces House Democrats To Pull DC Voting Bill


House Democrats pulled a bill to grant voting rights to Washington, D.C., after Republicans offered a motion that would repeal the gun ban for the District.

The move is a clear signal that Democrats have lost control of the House floor on the voting rights issue after minority Republicans presented the Democratic majority with a politically unpalatable motion that their conservative members would be forced to support for fear of angering the gun rights community.

Fifty-two Democrats voted with Republicans on a similar measure to repeal the gun ban in 2004. That would be more than enough support for Republicans to add a repeal to the voting rights bill - something a majority of Democrats would vehemently oppose.

Republicans have taken great pride in offering motions to recommit during their time in the minority, an often over-looked legislative procedure that has allowed them to amend various bills on the House floor.

Democratic Rep. Ellen Tauscher of California, who served as chair when the House began consideration of the motion, called the postponement at the request of the Democratic leadership, saying the speaker has complete discretion to postpone consideration of any legislation at any time.

Democrats scrambled to remedy the situation on the floor but were eventually forced to pull the bill to begin debate on a controversial wartime funding measure that is expected on the floor Friday.

Republicans could offer a similar procedural motion to slow consideration of that measure whenever it comes to the floor.

The House was expected to approve the bill to grant Washington, DC, a vote in the House by a wide margin, with several Republicans expected to vote in favor of the legislation.

[robinlynne]

1. I dont doubt your post, but I doubt politico always.

any other source?

[FyurFly]

3. Here ya go..

http://wtop.com/?nid=116&sid=1093337

[Zenlitened]

8. Thanks. That's an Associated Press version, and it shows more clearly...

... what's going on: Parliamentary maneuvers and Republicans whining when they don't get to play anymore. :cry:

House Postpones Vote on D.C., Utah Seats

By JIM ABRAMS Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Legislation to give the District of Columbia a full vote in the U.S. House stalled Thursday when Republicans unexpectedly injected the volatile issue of gun control.

Apparently fearful they might lose control of the proceedings, Democrats decided to put off action indefinitely on the voting rights measure, which had appeared to be moving toward passage.

Republicans protested the delay and sought a quick vote on their attempt to repeal the capital city's ban on handguns. Democratic leaders "shamefully exploited a rule to kill debate and postpone the vote indefinitely," said Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio.

More:
http://wtop.com/?nid=116&sid=1093337#

[sandnsea]

2. It's what they do

They want a wild wild west dog eat dog go cheney yourself society.

[FyurFly]

5. I have no problem with DC getting a vote but...

Until Democrats stop the assault on the 2A, shit like this will continue. Gun control is a losing issue for the Democrats but they just don't seem to care.

[Robbien]

4. duplicate posting of Politico biased story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x477387

[azurnoir]

6. The republiks don't care anymore

whether a bill was popular with voters or not, they simply want to make Dems "look" bad or ineffectual by slowing down or blocking anything the Dems come up with. On this one though I would have to say given DC's ethnic makeup they have given up any veneer of trying to win the Black vote, why else would they not want this passed? You aren't going to vote for us so we won't let you vote.

[LSK]

7. Im calling BS on this one

Since when can the GOP put any bills forward onto the floor?

"the speaker has complete discretion to postpone consideration of any legislation at any time."

[sandnsea]

9. That's what this motion does

Sends a bill back to committee with instructions to add an amendment.

http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/recommit_mot.htm

Apparently Republicans are going wild with it, and having some success too.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=house+motion+recommit&btnG=Search

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. no, it's true - I was watching every second of it. It was so exciting

thinking that DC would finally get the vote in the House. And, then the repukes pulled this shit with the repealing the gun ban. Sickening, they starting blah, blah, blahing about the decent citizen's right to protect themselves.

[Horse with no Name]

10. Why do the Democrats still pretend that they are the minority

and have to cave to pressure from them?
DC SHOULD have representative rights.
It's insane that they do not.

[depakid]

11. Because they don't play to win

and it costs us all dearly. There's no reason whatsoever that the Dems shouldn't be shutting the far right out of the process- just as was done to them the last 6 years.

[MikeE]

12. As a DC resident

As a DC resident, I hate the fact that we have no voting representation in congress, and reps from other states can change the city laws any way they want. However, I do see an up side to this. I hated the fact that it basically was going to give us a vote and then offset it with a vote for Utah. And, what if congress decided to change their mind? I don't think DC residents should settle for anything less than FULL STATEHOOD! It may happen in 2 years when we have more Democrats in both houses. Therefore, I am not as upset as I normally would be.

[annabanana]

13. Now someone please explain to me why we didn't do this to THEM

While we were in the minority? Or DID we and I just never heard about it...?

Seriously

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. because we aren't savy enough. They would always say, "oh

we're saving it for something really, really important. A lot of good that did.

[enough already]

16. WTF

What good is being the fucking majority when we act like total wimps?