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Pelosi Pulls One Last Political Stunt

House Democrats' maneuver blocks GOP amendments on tax vote

By: Robert Bluey (Diary)  |  December 1st, 2010 at 10:54 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

From the diaries by Erick.

With their days numbered in control of the U.S. House, Democrats are planning a political stunt Thursday in hopes of embarrassing Republicans on a vote to raise taxes.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced Democrats would disregard the Obama administration’s ongoing negotiations with congressional Republicans and force a vote on taxes. Democrats will use a procedural maneuver preventing the GOP from offering an amendment to extend all of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.

Republicans immediately voiced alarm at the move. While the vote would prevent tax hikes on Americans earning $250,000 or less, small businesses would face steep tax increases under the Democrats’ plan.

Without an opportunity to offer amendments, Republicans are expected to vote against the measure. By doing so they’ll give Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) one final opportunity to demagogue the issue. However, it will likely be a short-lived victory. The measure has little chance of passing in the Senate.

Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee, expressed his disappointment with the Democrats’ decision as negotiations with the administration continued.

“This is disappointing and a sign of bad faith after the president agreed to bipartisan, bi-cameral talks,” Camp told Fox News. “There will be bipartisan opposition to the Democrats’ push to raise taxes on small business.”

Given her authoritarian rule of the House, it’s not surprising Pelosi is using a procedural political trick to force Thursday’s floor vote. Democrats took a previously House-passed bill and replaced the language — preventing Republicans from offering amendments.

It remains unclear how the Democrats’ maneuver will impact the Obama administration’s negotiations over taxes — a top issue for Republicans in the lame-duck session. Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) indicated the political stunt wouldn’t help matters.

“While we had a good meeting at the White House yesterday about how we’ll resolve the issue of stopping all the tax hikes, the House leaders are going to go down this path of gerrymandering the process so that members only have one option, and that’s to vote on only providing some tax relief to the American people,” Boehner told The Hill. “I think it’s wrong, it does undercut the conversation we had just yesterday.”

COMMENTS

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  • http://www.facebook.com/BigGator5 BigGator5

    This Is An Outrage!

    …Who am I kidding? We knew this was coming. However I think Republicans should threaten to call off talks if this vote goes forward.

    • Mike Ferguson

      they should have left/called them off the moment this was announced.

      Question: If there is no republican member on the floor for the vote can it still be held. I know in the senate there is a rule that there has to be at least on republican there, is it the same for the house?

      • IJB

        Time to send a message.

        • cpa2222

          not that repubs are party of “no.” yes, the sergeant at arms can round them up, and they can be found in contempt of congress, but the prosecution would come under republican leadership. i think it is worth the effort to prove how devastatingly and devious the Pelosi house has been to Americans.
          On another point, why is it that no one mentions the 3.8% national sales tax on residences which is mandated in the Obamacare bill? We already have a sick housing industry, and the dems put this nice little surprise in the health care bill to raise more taxes. They don’t care how golden the goose is as long as they can tax it, and then tax whatever eggs it leaves behind.

      • wannabeanncoulter

        The House Sergeant-at-Arms and his deputies round up the missing Republicans. There are some pesky rules about unexcused absences, even for US representatives. If recalcitrant members refuse to obey the Sergeant-at-Arms and return to the floor of the house, they be held in contempt.

  • powertothepeople

    and that word is runt with a “c” and the only thing she deserves is the same thing a rabid dog in Texas gets. Obama is a breath of fresh air compared to this woman, and I use that term lightly.

    • jimmaloney

      “Obama is a breath of fresh air compared to this woman, and I use that term lightly.”

      careful, there, where you stick your nose, friend- both smell the same to me…

      • scottb

        Two pease in a pod, only defferent.

        • powertothepeople

          ‘Two pease in a pod, only defferent.’

          I am assuming you were trying to say Two peas in a pod, only different?

          • powertothepeople

            I caught the Scarface, not scraface, disease.

  • http://charlemagne-the-hammer.blogspot.com/ DerKrieger

    A large number of Americans already pay zero in federal income taxes with many receiving money in the form of the EITC, which is nothing more than income redistribution, and only about 50% of working Americans (and probably less if you subtract government employees who are not net contributors to government “revenue), actually pay income taxes that are redistributed to a large portion of Americans that don’t work or work for little pay. So, why do the Democrats want us to pay even more? I just don’t get it.

    And where is the GOP with the IRS stats showing just how much of the burden is borne by those in the top income earning ranges?

    These people are insane and need to be institutionalized.

    • jlsankot

      will cause those who provide jobs to pay more in taxes, resulting in lay-offs or, in some cases, to close up shop. This intensifies the break-down of America which is what the Liberals have been working for. With this, the break-down is just around the corner.

      We already have more than enough unemployed.

      The Republicans need to be force fed an initial dose of Conservatism with a maintainance dose three times a day, with meals.

      • mirac777

        Here is another note on phony celebs saying they want to pay more taxes. Bill Gates- If your lying a** wants to pay more taxes, then why do you claim every single penny you give to phony “foundations”, run by your kids, on your tax returns? Hypocrites. Truth is Philanthropy is just a front for donating to others to avoid paying the taxes on your income. And rarely are these “donations” actually helping poor people. Name me one family that is losing their home, who has had their mortgage paid for by Gates, Buffet, or any of the other lying hypocrites saying they “Want” to be taxed more. Show me the money gates? You know the CHECK that you wil write to the IRS, for say 50 million? WILL NOT HAPPEN, as you all are as phony as a 3-dollar bill!

  • http://charlemagne-the-hammer.blogspot.com/ DerKrieger

    …I’ve seen those before:

    http://s3.hubimg.com/u/10582_f520.jpg

    http://www.cryonie.com/en/2009/images/hitler-speech.jpg

    Godwin’s Law violation?

  • electroncollector

    just before the vote.

  • gettingsl

    And who really believes Obama isn’t in on this little deal? All the wonderful comments from Cantor/Boehner on how the administration is ready to work with them just shows how the republicans never learn. Anyone remember when Gingrich and company came out of a budget meeting with Clinton, announced they had a deal only to be stabbed in the back by Clinton the very same day?

    Pelosi isn’t working in a vacuum, they Pelosi, Reid and Obama) all had a strategy meeting just after the election.

    • mirac777

      Unless Cantor is being groomed by wise old Republicans who want to lay low until they have the power to ambush these tyrants. Not all the GOP are ignorant-passive progressives, IMO.

  • mirac777

    Now tell me that isn’t the face of a lunatic. Pathetic Tyrant wanting to bash Americans for voting against her Socialistic utopian fantasies. Pathetic.

  • cam1

    is truly evil. John Boehner and Eric Cantor are part of the problem not the people we should have at the top of the House. It’s going to be a hard fight to get real conservatives who believe in constitutional restraints on government in power.

  • dambama

    [Redacted, part II.]

    • http://vladenblog.tumblr.com Vladimir
  • tomaso11

    The issue will pass or fail on how democRATS vote. Nothing the Republicans can do about that. If all Republicans simply do not vote or vote the osamaobama “Present” there will be the same result: democRAT Yea votes will determine the result. It would not matter if Republicans vote No or don’t vote at all.Then, Republicans can say they did not vote AGAINST middle class tax reductions. Just like the Senate allowed Bill Nelson of FL to vote agains earmarks because the fix was alread in. Now, Nelson will slink back to FL and brag about how conservativer he is because of this vote-just after he votes for Harry Reid as his Sennate leader.

  • republichic

    Nancy Pelosi is one of the most vicious people I have ever witnessed. I admire John Boehner and Eric Cantor for having the resistance to not slap her down on the podium. While Nancy, Harry and Obama slam us into Socialism, we will have to give our Conservative team time to get this mess cleaned up. There are days I watch what is going on and I can’t believe this is America. We’ve always known that payoffs and trickery existed in Congress, but never to the extent that has been exposed. The Democrats would rather raise taxes on everyone because they have already spent the money. Just listen to them and their exact amount they are counting on. This is fodder for Obama’s next spending trip and a treasury for the 2012 elections. The Republicans must stand up against the Dems on this and they must watch both hands every minute. We now know the reparations just paid out to the Black farmers is nothing more than fraud and redistribution of wealth. There is no way in God’s green earth that there were 100,000+ Black farmers who were all discriminated against. The original suit was only 18,000 farmers. So, thanks to good ole Holder, he opens the suit back up, so that any Black person who wants can claim discrimination and receive a nice payday at our expense. Our Attorney Gen has participated in fraud and nothing will ever happen to him. You’ve got Obama selling our Country out on the arms deal. We will become, at his wish, a third-world Country soon if people don’t get off their duff and start raising cain. I understand the fear to do so. You never know if you will be put on the assassination list. Now, we have a new Farm Bill under the disguise of a safety bill. Bull! It’s more regulation over our lives and removal of more freedoms. But, what troubles me the most are those people who still believe in him and what he is doing. How can you be so blind to not see what this man and his Czars are doing to us? How can you sleep at night knowing he is turning our Country into a Socialist utopia? There’s going to be an uprising in this Country. People will get hurt all because it’s planned that way. I dare anyone to challenge me and convince me I’m wrong. You can’t do it. All you can say is I’m wrong, but you have no facts to back it up. All the facts are on our side. Now, we are going to put up with the FCC’s Net Neutrality. Who’s taking over now? We are going to face higher fees for the right to Internet and we will have our privacy no more. Big Brother just won another one and Americans are just allowing it. When Interpol comes to your door to seize your guns, will you believe then? You Progressive Socialists and Communist out there, I know you must be gloating, but be sure of this, Americans who don’t believe your crap outnumber you and we do have a voice right now. You people make me sick to my stomach. If you don’t like America, move somewhere else like Greece. They are rioting in the streets already. You can join right in. Leave us alone.

    • promise

      You are so right!! I believe you just said what everyone of us feel & know to be true! YOU GO GIRL/GUY(?)!!!!
      Last nite I saw the clip from “Grapes of Wrath” where “mama” was telling son, we will win we are the people and we will keep coming, we will win! This was said as they were driving away to yet another home!! IT IS TRUE WE WILL KEEP COMING WE ARE THE PROPLE!!!! WE WILL WIN!!!
      GOD BLESS US & GIVE US STRENGTH, WISDOM & COURGEOUS TO “keep comimg”.

      • arnold1

        Oh, come on! That was a socialist rant if there ever was one. John Steinbeck won the Pulitzer from a bunch of communist wannabes when he tried to mask his true feelings about America behind the skirts and overalls of a bunch of illiterate farmers complaining how they been done in by “the Man.” Of course, you did watch a movie clip. Like that really tells you something. We have to get smarter. people!

  • mspector

    That all this comes to us courtesy of our President who, as a candidate, pounded the podium with his rhetorical shoe and proclaimed “I don’t want to change the game, I want to end the game”. And in pursuit of that goal promptly put Pelosi — the dirtiest player in the game — in charge of House Democrats.

    And let us not ignore the supreme irony of a situation in which these hacks cry out of one side of their mouths that Republicans/conservatives don’t want to help or compromise, and out of the other tell us “we won” (in 2008) and therefore can do whatever we want.

    As the old line goes, if you find yourself in a hole the first thing to do is stop digging. Obalosi is in a deep hole, entirely of their own making. Since they insist on standing so proudly at the bottom of that pit, shovels in hand, our response should be obvious: shovel the dirt back in over them. I think that’s why God invented 2012.