Republicans: We Don't Want Reconciliation...Or Cap-and-Trade
The floor debates on the budget continue in both chambers today. A couple things we'll be looking out for--Republicans should be offering an amendment at some point have offered an amendment that would "prohibit the use of reconciliation in the Senate for climate change legislation involving a cap and trade system." Right now, reconciliation instructions are only included in the House bill, but they may well be imported to the Senate bill in conference.
Meanwhile, Senator John Thune has introduced an amendment that would "prohibit the collection of funds from any future cap and trade proposal if that proposal would increase electricity rates and gasoline prices for American households and businesses."
Neither of these amendments are likely to pass, but the roll calls will be educational. Recall that during the stimulus debate, 36 Republicans voted for an alternative plan put forward by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) that would have scrapped the Democrats' proposal and replaced it with a bunch of tax cuts. It failed, obviously, but it was a telling moment about the alignment of thinking within the body--only four senators (Voinovich, Specter, Snowe, and Collins voted against it, and three of them supported the final stimulus).
Along the same lines, it will be interesting to see who votes to support either of these amendments--and, particularly, to see if any Democrats vote to block reconciliation entirely.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
We want a cookie!!
March 31, 2009 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
(stomps feet, cries)
March 31, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
why don't the dems call out the republicans over their hypocrisy on this issue? republicans had NO problem whatsoever using reconciliation dozens and dozens of times overthe past two decades most notably to pass Bush's Budgets!
srsly. it's a threat to the sacred institution of the senate if dems do it, but i guess, like a lot of things IOKIYAR
March 31, 2009 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suspect they're not making much of it because decrying hypocrisy never seems to be very effective as a political tactic; most people just hear "Did not! Did too!"
Fortunately, though, complaining about obscure procedural maneuvers is an even worse political tactic, so while it's annoying not to hear them slammed for their double standard, I don't think it's a big deal.
The more important thing is for us all to let our senators know that we see through it and we want results, not appeasement of the liars, lest the unchallenged GOP meme seep into their brains.
March 31, 2009 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
After Cornyn announced yesterday that he wanted Coleman to help him block Sen. Franken from taking his seat in the Senate for "years," it's only fair to treat the Republicans as diehard obstructionists and nothing but.
Reid needs to use reconciliation to get health care and climate change legislation passed and he should threaten to enact the nuclear option, too.
The GOP can't lead, they won't follow, so shove them out of the way. At this point, I think America would be grateful to the Dems for doing it.
March 31, 2009 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I don't want Republicans, so I guess we're even.
March 31, 2009 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe it's time for a serous debate on the filibuster. Liberals have used it to block heinous things, but it seems to be used much more often by conservatives to block necessary things. I was actually hoping the Republicans would use the "nuclear option" when they had control and provide an excuse to kill it.
March 31, 2009 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink