How can Obama introduce a jobs bill?

[ruggerson]

We've been told repeatedly that Presidents don't write legislation or have their bills introduced.

That's Congress' job, after all. ;)

[bluestateguy]

1. They do this all the time

The president, or any other person or special interest group and write legislation and send it up to Capitol Hill.

But then the bill must be sponsored by a member to be formally introduced and sent to committee. This is often done by the committee chairs.

I believe David Obey was the congressional sponsor of the stimulus in 2009, even though that was largely written by the White House.

[McCamy Taylor]

2. He is supposed to use his ESP to make Congress does it.

[EFerrari]

3. LOL

[jefferson_dem]

4. Why is Congress even being consulted?

We've been told repeatedly that the President is able to unilaterally do whateverthefuck he wants, regardless of the power or priorities of others.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Actually, that's not true. No one says that.

Lots of people say what is in the OP.

[krawhitham]

18. You must not be hanging arounf DU much

[bornskeptic]

29. You must have missed this thread if you believe that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x768033

But wait! You didn't miss that thread. You posted in it. Memory playing tricks on you?

[Bobbie Jo]

7. LOL

[young but wise]

15. +1

[ProSense]

5. Well,

"We've been told repeatedly that Presidents don't write legislation or have their bills introduced."

...I've never heard that. I've heard that President's don't introduce legislation in Congress and they don't pass legislation, but never that they don't write proposals.

The President sent Congress proposals for a stimulus package, Wall Street reform, health care reform, etc.

What people don't seem to want to acknowledge is that once these proposals are introduced in Congress, the legislature can and often does rework them.

The President is asking Congress to pass this proposal as is because thus far Congress has been unable to do anything to address the jobs crisis.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. He is sending a bill, not a proposal for a bill, a bill.

Dozens of people said he could not do that for DADT or DOMA, and they did so in the most nasty verbiage.

[ProSense]

14. So

"He is sending a bill, not a proposal for a bill, a bill."

it's a bill. A bill is a proposal. Clinton sent Congress a health care bill. It's nothing new.

Still, a member of Congress has to introduce it, and you know the rest.

[polmaven]

19. Unbelievable

how many politically active people know so little about how Congress works!

[frazzled]

23. Actually, it starts with you

Because a bill is indeed a proposal. Only members of Congress can propose resolutions that are considered by the entire body. The President can't send a bill over and have it considered unless some Senator takes it up and proposes it.

You can even write a bill. You just have to get someone in Congress to introduce it. The president can NOT introduce a bill himself.

Amazing how many politically active people know so little about how Congress works!

[polmaven]

28. Yeah....

That is what we have been saying! Have you got a problem with it?

[ruggerson]

26. And we have a WINNAH!

[xchrom]

9. Recommend - I think a decent search will turn up

Exactly that idea.

[joshcryer]

13. Freel free to show us.

[xchrom]

16. I'm really not interested in any suggestion from you. Nt

[muffin1]

10. I have no idea.

Perhaps a genuine *liberal democrat* will help us out.

[Prism]

11. I was literally coming here to post exactly this.

You read my mind, lol. I remember those long threads aimed at LGBTers about how legislation is Congress's job and the President has nothing to do with it!

Lord.

People are funny.

[ruggerson]

12. GMTA

:P :hug:

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[William769]

20. I tip my hat to you ruggerson.

Recommended.


P.S. I wonder if they still plan on using this meme, or will they realize they can't have their cake & eat it too. I'm betting they will stick with the meme.

[frazzled]

21. He can't--only a member of Congress can introduce it

Anyone--even you or me (or the president)--can write a bill, but only a member of Congress can introduce it as legislation.

Let me direct you to "Building a Bill in Congress ... for Dummies"

In the congressional context, a bill is simply a proposal, an idea, that's written up in legislation and presented to the Congress.

Starting with an idea
It all starts with an idea, a simple concept. You take that idea to your representative or senator because you see a need, you have a cause, and you want it to become a law.

Remember that only members of Congress can propose resolutions that are considered by the entire body. Your task comes down to convincing a member to actually want to introduce your idea.

Anyone can write up, or draft a bill, but only a member of Congress can introduce it.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/building-a-bill-in-congress.html

And of course, once that "bill" (remember, it's a proposal) is introduced, it has to go through relevant committees and undergo regular amendment procedures, etc.

[William769]

22. You miss the point of this post.

ruggerson knows haow a bill is introduced. His post is sarcasm.

[frazzled]

24. No, actually, a lot of people in this thread are confused about it.

[ruggerson]

25. No, actually, you missed the point of the post

and you missed the language in the OP: "or HAVE their bills introduced."

[vaberella]

27. It is Congress' job and it should be. It goes to show how paralyzed our Congress is.

I think if Obama takes the upper hand that will be an issue. Shit, it already is with the Republican party and as such it won't pass. Or I'm not holding my breath that it will pass.

[bvar22]

30. Great Minds think alike.

I was going to post this very same statement myself today,
as a lesson for the contingent on DU that has INSISTED
that a president can NOT introduce anything to Congress.
This was especially prevalent during the DOMA & Don't Ask, Don't Tell "discussions".

They knew How the government Works,
and WE Stupid, Uninformed, Haters who flunked Civics didn't.


Note: You were much nicer about it than I intended to be.
Wonder if we will hear any apologies?


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[quaker bill]

31. You know he actually didn't, right?

He sent over a plan. Some member still has to "introduce a bill" that incorporates the plan.