TPMDC
Dems Find Their Wedge Issue And Aim To Force GOP Vote On Ryan Plan
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
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House Democrats want to kick House Republicans where it hurts, and are exploring ways to force the minority party to take a stand on Rep. Paul Ryan's budget "roadmap" that has become a political minefield in advance of this fall's elections.
A Democratic leadership source told TPMDC they are considering options for putting the Ryan plan on the floor, forcing Republicans to vote for or against a plan they don't want to talk about. This appears to be the Ryan bill, with seven GOP co-sponsors.
While conservative groups love the plan - which cuts Social Security and Medicare benefits before effectively privatizing the entitlement programs - and Ryan says he's willing to lose his job over presenting new policy ideas, GOP leaders are backing away.
We told you Friday the Democrats plan to force a vote on a resolution that "expresses the will of House Democrats to preserve Social Security and reaffirms our commitment to working in a bipartisan way to make common sense adjustments to strengthen the program for generations to come."
The resolution is a way to expose fissures among House Republicans and the first real indication the Democrats plan to play hardball leading up to the 2010 midterm elections.
(Read it in full here, and notice how similar it is to votes the GOP forced on issues such as leaks to the New York Times, and votes for supporting troops.)
Our leadership source tells us not to expect a vote on the resolution in the next two weeks because Democrats want to draw that out as long as possible to poke the Republicans in that 2005 wound.
"We should take our time and call out Republicans for not signing on as co-sponsors first, before voting on it," the source said.
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Overreach THIS!
February 8, 2010 1:26 PM
As long as the delay does not descend into "We decided this would only further upset the debate," which I believe is very likely.
MAKE THEM VOTE ON IT GODDAMMIT!!!!!
Or you don't deserve to be in those seats!
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dem4life
February 9, 2010 9:17 AM in reply to Overreach THIS!
LET'S SEE WHAT THE UNEDUCATED TEABAGGERS THINK ABOUT THIS?????
I WANT MY GOVMENT BAC FOLKS
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Docb
February 9, 2010 11:50 AM in reply to Overreach THIS!
CALL AND PUSH THEM TO BRING IT TO THE FLOOR>>>>1.800.828.0498 or 1.866.311.3405..It works to register your disgust --Look at Shelby backing away ..be sure to call B. Nelson for helping the repubs too!
These numbers work for the Senate who need to be prodded into working for the American people on any issue...
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Docb
February 9, 2010 11:51 AM in reply to Overreach THIS!
CALL AND PUSH THEM TO BRING IT TO THE FLOOR>>>>1.800.828.0498 or 1.866.311.3405..It works to register your disgust --Look at Shelby backing away ..be sure to call B. Nelson for helping the repubs too!
These numbers work for the Senate who need to be prodded into working for the American people on any issue...
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Schnormal
February 8, 2010 1:30 PM
and when they're done w/ that, the dems should introduce a bill that would make all vets eligible to enroll in medicare immediately upon finishing their service, offer good for the rest of their lives.
let the gop bastards try voting against *that*.
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Overreach THIS!
February 8, 2010 1:40 PM in reply to Schnormal
This is a Republican plan, troll. Not Dem. No one's making this up or drafting legislation. Your boy is ready to fall onto his sword over it, good.
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farnsworth
February 8, 2010 1:55 PM in reply to Overreach THIS!
I gotta say, I don't know what you are talking about.
This guy has what seems like a good idea to me. I mean, a good idea for roasting the Repubs. His post doesn't imply (in any way I can discern) a pro-Republican or anti-Democrat spin of any kind.
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CT Voter
February 8, 2010 1:58 PM in reply to farnsworth
Second, although I appreciate the issue wrt VA.
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Overreach THIS!
February 8, 2010 2:43 PM in reply to farnsworth
So I apologized. It's not a realistic idea now, but it's coming from a good place. Thought it was a snark; my bad.
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JEP07
February 9, 2010 10:42 AM in reply to Overreach THIS!
Sailormanlowe actually proposes a populist idea?
Did the sun rise in the west this morning?Maybe this is really snark gone awry, an attempt at contempt that crossed over to the other side?
Sailor, please clarify for us, are you REALLY for this idea of yours or are you ridiculing Democrats for politicizing?
Regardless, it made me think; Forging a world-class healthcare program by uniting the VA and Medicare is definitely food for thought.
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dem4life
February 9, 2010 9:18 AM in reply to Overreach THIS!
THE LUCK OF THE O'RYAN'S
FALL MOFO
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Schnormal
February 8, 2010 1:46 PM
Wait, you think i'm a troll? Why? I was serious! I think it's a great idea!
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rbe1
February 8, 2010 1:54 PM in reply to Schnormal
Point taken. But returning vets with medical issues are taken care of by VA. Considering that the VA is really overwhelmed these days, I'd like to see more money going into the VA as part of the upcoming budget negotiations.
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Schnormal
February 8, 2010 2:02 PM in reply to rbe1
My neighbor is a vet (was shot in Afghanistan), and he tells me he has no health insurance.
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Model271
February 8, 2010 2:25 PM in reply to Schnormal
Does he also tell you that the VA will not treat him for his service-connected medical problems?
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Schnormal
February 8, 2010 2:28 PM in reply to Model271
No, i think his war injuries are as fixed as they're going to get. But now he needs bypass surgery (not war-related), and he said his doc told him he needs $40,000 up front.
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Overreach THIS!
February 8, 2010 2:37 PM in reply to Schnormal
Listen, I get your point that you are not a troll, and so I apologize.
Republicans are going to get away largely with not expanding entitlements in this environment -- the country is in a tough way and we can't afford big new programs. Their proposal is to shrink and end existing entitlements, and the narrow point is, okay, if you want to break the social contract, go ahead and vote for it. So they can't later say they had all sorts of nifty ideas but bad Obama wouldn't let them save our country, which is what they're saying now.
This is their idea: to toss everyone out on the street. If so, great, vote for it and then explain your vote to voters.
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Jackster
February 8, 2010 1:50 PM
Fresh face, old failed ideas, move on
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Schnormal
February 8, 2010 1:57 PM
I don't get it. What do you mean?
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Schnormal
February 8, 2010 2:09 PM in reply to Schnormal
Oh wait i get it now.
I think i need some coffee, lol.
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DownriverDem
February 8, 2010 1:57 PM
All I can say is the last time (2005) the GOP pulled this stunt, I was 3 months shy of 55. Now I am protected, but I know exacly how those who are 54 feel.
This is nuts. They can cut all they want, but the Baby Boomers are not going away. We have worked our whole lives and if they want to stick it to us now, we will really take to the streets. I wonder how the Tea Baggers feel about this.
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condew
February 8, 2010 2:08 PM
After the Obama's abysmal leadership on health care, I don't trust him to not gut Social Security and Medicare; I mean the Republicans want to gut Social Security, so I'm sure Rahm is already twisting arms to get Democrats to vote for this; its the "bipartisan" thing to do.
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GermanyOrFlorida
February 8, 2010 2:11 PM
This is stupid. I don't agree with any of Ryan's ideas, but he's not the problem here - he actually has ideas he supports. People like Boehner and Pence and Hensarling are the problem here - people who have no ideas and don't want to be tied down to anything.
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Schnormal
February 8, 2010 2:17 PM in reply to GermanyOrFlorida
Best thing to do w/ people like Boehner and Pence and Hensarling is make them vote!
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Overreach THIS!
February 8, 2010 2:45 PM in reply to Schnormal
Right, exactly.
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mrut
February 9, 2010 11:53 AM in reply to Schnormal
Yes, get Boehner and Kantor and McConnell on the record about their "wonderful" plans.
In fact, I want to pass HCR and a jobs bill, but after that, I would like 2010 to be the year of crappy choices for the Republicans. Pound them with one politically unpopular vote after another. I like the fact that the Dems seem to have a strategy on this budget vote. Draw it out and time it properly. Make them feel the pain.
Signed,
Thor (who is sick of fighting stupid misrepresentations of HCR)
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Overreach THIS!
February 8, 2010 2:42 PM in reply to GermanyOrFlorida
How is it stupid to make Boehner, Pence et al vote for their own Republican plan? They say they have great ideas. And their guy came up with this one which will disenfranchise the elderly and the sick. Great, vote for it, if it's such a hot plan. Tell the voters why you did, surely they'll understand. While you explain why you insisted that undertaxing the rich and not holding banks or Wall Street accountable are extremely important.
Why is that bad?
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Schnormal
February 8, 2010 2:52 PM in reply to Overreach THIS!
Yes, exactly! Remember, these are the same people who did everything they could to avoid being questioned about social security at their PUBLIC town hall meetings!
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Overreach THIS!
February 8, 2010 3:37 PM in reply to Schnormal
I learned something here by the way. Didn't know that they dodged S.Sec. questions at the town meetings.
Well here's a perfect opportunity for them to go on record! Thanks!
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Schnormal
February 8, 2010 2:58 PM in reply to Overreach THIS!
we're like the chipmunks now, lol.
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midnight rambler
February 8, 2010 6:04 PM in reply to GermanyOrFlorida
That's the whole point. Boehner et al. keep saying they have great ideas if only the Dems would listen to them, when in fact they have nothing but empty platitudes. Along comes a genuine conservative plan with details, and lo and behold, it's full of cuts with severe pain. So make the empty suits/heads put up or shut up - vote for a plan that follows conservative values of cutting government to the bare bones, and killing Medicare and Social Security in the process, or vote against it and admit they bring nothing to the table.
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tduff
February 8, 2010 3:07 PM
So we will make the vote on this, but heaven forbid we make them fillibuster....
http://randomthoughtstd.blogspot.com/
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Diane
February 8, 2010 3:22 PM
Last year the Dems had a vote on the R's budget, the wedge produced little or no media effect, probably won't this time around. When it comes to broadcasting wedge issue votes, the R's have it all over us.
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SilvestriWoman
February 8, 2010 4:22 PM in reply to Diane
I know what you're saying, but I think this would be different. Ryan's proposal is so radical to be ignored.
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Boidster
February 8, 2010 6:21 PM in reply to Diane
Not sure the idea is necessarily to get wide media coverage of the GOP's evil plans (though it wouldn't suck). I think it's more to get ammo for the coming elections. Campaign ads will take care of whatever exposure is needed.
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PAvoter
February 8, 2010 4:43 PM
Hopefully, the Democrats will force a vote to occur on a Monday or Tuesday. But watch the Republicans maneuver the vote to happen on a late Friday, when it doesn't get picked up, and change the title to something that can be easily confused and not talked about in a 5 second sound bite.
That way the right wing noise machine can claim the Democrats were putting forth a bill to bankrupt the nation, and tax and spend.
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we r all husseins
February 8, 2010 8:55 PM
Boehner et al are such hypocrites, even if Ryan's plan was brought up for a vote, they'd probably threaten to filibuster it.
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JerseyCurmudgeon
February 8, 2010 9:18 PM
There are a few bills that Democrats could introduce and where forcing a vote could drive a wedge between independents and Republicans. Closing the ERISA loophole and ending the anti-trust exemption for health insurance companies. Introducing a Constitutional amendment that protects privacy rights for all adults. Another that limits the Bill of Rights to individual human beings. Term limits (we should own this, not the right-wing).
My favorites: a bill that would guarantee a Federal standard for compensating victims of wrongful convictions, and another that would make it a Federal crime to suppress evidence in criminal cases.
Probably dozens more.
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Knothead Jake
February 9, 2010 7:05 AM
I like this idea. I would like it even better if they filibuster. I think the people need to see how ignorant the Repudlickins are. To watch those imbeciles droning on and on and on and on. They'll start strangling each other before its over. And everybody can point there fingers and laugh at the party of NO.
Look at how they cried about having to vote on an anti-rape bill. They were acting like that was a cheap shot. Idiots,dunces, clowns, morons,dolts all of them.
Also,I think the vet plan is a great plan.
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Tosh
June 6, 2010 10:49 PM
Sailormanlowe actually proposes a populist idea?
Did the sun rise in the west this morning?Maybe this is really snark gone awry, an attempt at contempt that crossed over to the other side?
Sailor, please clarify for us, are you REALLY for this idea of yours or are you ridiculing Democrats for politicizing?
Regardless, it made me think; Forging a world-class healthcare program by uniting the VA and Medicare is definitely food for thought.
m65 kamagra
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