Republicans plan more protests on approps bills

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/republicans-plan-more-protests-on-approps-bills-2009-06-21.html

Republicans plan more protests on approps bills
By Molly K. Hooper and Walter Alarkon
Posted: 06/21/09 08:19 AM


Republicans are planning to conduct more daylong protests on the House floor if Democrats limit their amendments to spending bills, top GOP members told the Hill.

House Republican Deputy Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said that Republicans will “stand up and fight,” against Democratic rules controlling debate that restrict the number of amendments they are allowed to offer to appropriations bills.

The GOP brought the House to a standstill on June 18 by insisting on 53 roll call votes - many of them motions to reconsider, one of the minority’s few weapons - during floor debate of the Commerce, Justice and Science (C-J-S) spending bill. The bill ultimately passed 259-157 on a largely party-line vote.

The GOP protest was sparked on June 16 when the Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) stopped consideration of C-J-S bill because Republicans, who had offered 102 amendments, were dragging out the process, Democrats say.

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Democratic appropriators in both chambers have set a goal of getting all 12 spending bills to President Obama by the start of the fiscal year, Oct. 1. That hasn't happened since 1994.

“We’re going to do each and every bill, we’ll just have structured rules," said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), a top lieutenant to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). "We’re not going to let obstructionist and obstructions of the House succeed.” <- - - {Backbone?}