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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEric Cantor Given Total Control Of House In LATE NIGHT RULE CHANGE By GOP
Uncovered by Maryland Representative Chris Van Hollen
In the dead of night before the shutdown, the Republicans forced through a rule change, one which effectively handed over control of the government over to one man, Eric Cantor. You see, under the rules of the house, the members of the house had the ability to put the Senate resolution to a vote in the house. Here is the rule, as written:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/HMAN-112/pdf/HMAN-112.pdf
New Rules, New Leader In Congress.
However, the rule change pushed through in the dead of night without any oversight or debate instead put the authority to proceed into the hands of the majority leader in the house, Eric Cantor. This is the same Eric Cantor who is known for having gutted anti-corruption and bribery legislation. And now, he runs the show. Even House Speaker John Boehner can not bring it up to a vote. This rule change was uncovered by Maryland Representative Chris Van Hollen, who brought it to the House Floor late last week.
Supreme Overlord Eric Cantor, Emperor Eric Cantor, Or Just King Cantor?
Majority Leader Eric Cantor has usurped the rules and has placed himself as the dictator of Congress. Like a feudal lord, he lords over the house, and without the House, the Senate cannot pass the laws needed to run this country. Our new Nero playing his fiddle, King Eric Cantor is sitting back while the world burns. Eric Cantor has already made it clear that he disregards the US Senate entirely, and that the President should re-open government facilities he dictates, without paying for them of course. This comes after he already decided on stealing food out of poor peoples mouths. Hard work with having over 200 days of vacation a year.
Forget Democracy, This Is Eric Cantors Dictatorship Now!
He is making sure that his decision to destroy the United States is not overturned this time around. That way he can ensure that taxes go up on all but the top-1%, making sure that the poorest among us are paying for Mitt Romneys new Ferrari. As the debt ceiling fast approaches, we must beg the president, take the power out of the petty dictators hands before it is too late. The new rule change gives one man too much power in government. Just remember these words of wisdom, more true now than they ever were before.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/10/13/eric-cantor-rule-change/
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)Amazing!
Segami
(14,923 posts)NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)marble falls
(57,081 posts)tsuki
(11,994 posts)JimboBillyBubbaBob
(1,389 posts)great photo of Chuck, goatee and all!
secondvariety
(1,245 posts)roguevalley
(40,656 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)'Cause it is Sunday...would be marvelous if his office found a million emails clogging up his puter on Monday.
progressoid
(49,990 posts)From my quick search anyway. Pathetic.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/13/house-republicans-rules-change_n_4095129.html
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/10/10/2764321/on-eve-of-shutdown-house-gop-rigged-the-house-rules-to-prevent-democrats-reopening-government/
Oh, and a single line in the middle of this Fox piece:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/13/negotiations-stall-on-capitol-hill-house-leaves-collins-plan-in-serious-doubt/?cmpid=app_pulse&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews
meadowlark5
(2,795 posts)Looks like they did everything they could possibly think of to hamstring the process and get exactly what they were going for. What a bunch of assholes.
AZ Progressive
(3,411 posts)Their level of audacity and cunningness really comes to the level of villains depicted in movies.
carla
(553 posts)It makes one sound so much more credible when one uses words correctly.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)Cantor wants his job.
Mass
(27,315 posts)if something goes wrong.
rdharma
(6,057 posts)Incitatus
(5,317 posts)MH1
(17,600 posts)Incitatus
(5,317 posts)It would have passed even without their votes.
rdharma
(6,057 posts)Ron Barber AZ 2nd
John Barrow GA 12th
Sean Maloney NY 18th
Mike McIntire NC 7th
Collin Petersen MN 7th
Daniel Maffei NY 24th
Jim Matheson UT 4th
gopiscrap
(23,760 posts)rdharma
(6,057 posts)And I don't know WTF he was thinking!
gopiscrap
(23,760 posts)Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)rdharma
(6,057 posts)It makes it VERY clear who OWNS this shutdown/default.
Thanks for the info.
AZ Progressive
(3,411 posts)It seems to me that Eric Cantor, being a teabagger, is mad enough to make the U.S. Default.
corkhead
(6,119 posts)Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)Anyone know?
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)until they give and scream out "NO MORE" - then beat them up some more....
It's time to stand your ground against the bullies.
They need to be beaten down until they agree to resign from their seats...
Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)arrested, and sentenced to life in prison for extortion, RICO, and many charges we can think of...
And don't call me nuts... it WILL be an reality... and once the default occurs, then the law of the land is dead.
russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)maddiemom
(5,106 posts)onenote
(42,702 posts)The entire House voted on a particular "rule" for the consideration. Was it an unusual rule? Sure. Is there some law that dictates the rules by which the House considers legislation? Not a law, but the Constitution, which specifically gives unbridled power to the House to "determine the Rules of its Proceedings."
Care to explain what made the adoption of this rule "illegal."
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)It was the House Rules Committee in secret, shortly before midnight of the shutdown.
No full House voted for it.
GeorgeGist
(25,321 posts)Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)This is a vote on an unclean CR vote.
This is irrelevant to the topic I'm talking about.
onenote
(42,702 posts)Here's how it played out:
The House Rules Committee met and voted along strict party lines on the "rule" (H.Res. 368) governing the process by which the CR (H.J. Res. 59) would be considered.
The Rules Committee "reported" the proposed Rule (H.Res. 368) to the full House for consideration at 11:37 on the night of Sept. 30. An hour of debate was allocated on the proposed rule. At the end of that period, at 12:45 AM on October 1, the "question" was called on H. Res. 368 and a roll call vote was held. At 1:11 in the morning, after votes had been cast by 427 members of Congress, the "rule" (H.Res. 368), defining the process by which the CR to fund the government (H.J. Res. 59) would be considered by the House, as approved by a vote of 228-199. During the hour of debate before the full House on the proposed rule, Louise Slaughter (D-NY) expressly asked the Democratic caucus to vote no on the rule for, among other reasons, the fact that it changed the regular order and limited motions to proceed to those made by the Majority Leader.
And since you seem unwilling to accept the facts as they are explained to you by others here, maybe you'll accept them as described by the Library of Congress.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:HE00368:@@@X
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)and threatening the President.
I would not take it too kindly.
onenote
(42,702 posts)by adopting the "rule" governing the procedures for considering the CR, keeping in mind that the Constitution expressly gives each House the power to determine the rules of its proceedings.
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)How many times do I need to explain it - Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization, and that is EXACTLY what the House Republicans are.
And it's time to indict them.
Way past time. Let the Supreme Court deal with the RICO charges (if needed to be) as the Republicans are influenced by money and power and ignoring their constitutents. That's RICO.
Republicans have lost and lost and lost, and they're still HOLDING US HOSTAGE.
It's time to pay back them karma. and It's not the time to be nice about it.
onenote
(42,702 posts)How many times do I need to explain it. Article II, Section Sec. 5. Then again, maybe you just don't believe the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It seems like the only explanation for your persistent blindness to reality.
onenote
(42,702 posts)What is the predicate offense? Not voting for a particular version of a CR or debt ceiling bill?
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)That is a RICO charge....
onenote
(42,702 posts)What is it? Passing a funding bill that is different from the bill that the Senate passed? Threatening to pass a debt ceiling bill that the President won't sign? If those are crimes, why isn't it a crime for the President to threaten (or actually veto as funding or debt ceiling extension)? It wasn't a crime for Clinton and the Democrats to play hardball and its not a crime for the repubs. Its just stupid policy and stupid politics for which, in the long run, we need to make they pay by defeating them at the ballot box.
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)And at the end, we get stuck with the bill when it needs to be stuck to the RNC.
And threatening to default which is a violation against the 14th Amendment to protect the full faith and credit of the United States.
Not to mention RICO charges. These are all predicate criminal act that is in collusion with the Tea Party, facilitated by the Koch Brothers.
How's that for the RICO connections?
onenote
(42,702 posts)It had other stuff in it (as is often the case) that the Democrats rightly objected to, not because it was illegal,but because they believed (and I wholeheartedly agree) that they were bad policy. But it would be impossible to prove that the repubs did anything illegal since they are not under any legal obligation to pass the Senate's version of a CR, just as the Democrats are not legally obligated to pass the repubs version and the President is not legally obligated to sign a CR, even one passed by both houses, if he/she doesn't agree with it.
I've pointed out that President Clinton actually vetoed a debt ceiling extension. He also vetoed a CR that would have prevented a government shutdown. I think those actions by President Clinton not only were legal, but the right policy and strategy. You, apparently, think he committed criminal acts.
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)and that is Eric Cantor?
If I was President Obama, I'd order the entire Republican House leadership taken away because they is obstructing the legislative process when everyone and its mother knows a clean CR will pass - and the Republicans gave up everything to hold America hostage.
Stuart G
(38,427 posts)Just to make sure, kick again...
jsr
(7,712 posts)Robespierre
corkhead
(6,119 posts)Stuart G
(38,427 posts)Lars39
(26,109 posts)Teabaggers couped the Democrats *and* the Republicans, and ultimately everyone.
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)because only two men controls everything.
Boehner OR Cantor.
Both are criminals to the Nth degree, and needs to be arrested for RICO charges, found guilty and sentenced to life in prison in solitary.
Lars39
(26,109 posts)onenote
(42,702 posts)pursuant to the absolute discretion given by the Constitution to the House to "determine the Rules of its Proceedings".
So what crime was committed by the House?
Lars39
(26,109 posts)Then why was it not well known by House members that such a rule change had even occurred?
onenote
(42,702 posts)The resolution was debated in the full House for an hour and Louise Slaughter, the ranking Democrat on the Rules Committee, expressly urged the entire Democratic House delegation to vote no on the resolution for the very specific reason that it alters the standard rule and empowers the House Majority Leader to make a motion to take up the Senate bill. (Cong. Rec. Page: H6042). It is not that the adoption of this particular rule and what it did (i.e. suspend a standing rule for purposes of the House's consideration of the CR) was unknown to Democrats. Its that there wasn't a thing they could do about it.
Lars39
(26,109 posts)Th1onein
(8,514 posts)Why is that?
onenote
(42,702 posts)Do you think loudly proclaiming that it was illegal for the House to adopt the rule it adopted to govern its consideration of the CR is helpful when the Constitution clearly gives each House authority to make the rules that govern their proceedings?
Do you think that loudly proclaiming that the entire House didn't vote on that rule when it without a doubt did so is helpful?
I've made very clear that I think that the repubs tactics here are outrageous and would produce a very bad policy result. I've also made it clear that running around shouting "arrest them" is decidedly stupid.
Do you think that if there was the slightest basis for characterizing anything that the repubs have done here as "illegal" that someone like Alan Grayson would remain silent? Of course not. But Grayson has a greater understanding of history than some here do. He undoubtedly knows that the shoe sometimes is on the other foot. He also knows that saying what the repubs have done is illegal, is sedition, is treason would not be helpful if the President ever had to veto a CR or a debt ceiling bill (as Bill Clinton did in the mid-1990s and as President Obama has justifiably threatened to do (at least with respect to the CR).
Its called thinking about the consequences of what you are shouting. Such as: how would arresting anyone change anything. How would the House ever have a quorum to act (required by the Constitution). And that's just one of many "real world" questions that people ought to consider if they are looking for an effective way to respond to the repubs actions rather than engaging in silly fantasies.
Th1onein
(8,514 posts)the other side of things, nevertheless.
onenote
(42,702 posts)You need to get a life.
Stuart G
(38,427 posts)Justice
(7,188 posts)rules mid session (the nuclear option) and here the House goes and changes a rule.
Lars39
(26,109 posts)onenote
(42,702 posts)The way the House operates is that before a bill is considered, it typically goes to the Rules Committee, which proposes "Rule" that governs the bill's consideration. That rule, after being approved by Committee, is then presented to the entire House in the form of a resolution that must be approved by a majority of the House. Nothing in the standing rules prevents the House, in the "Rule" adopted for consideration of a particular resolution from approving an exception to or suspension of a particular standing rule of the House.
As for "gutting" the Rules Committee, the House has established the division of membership in its Committees and, in the case of the Rules Committee, it has been "2 to 1" plus one in favor of the Majority party for more than forty years (leading to a current 9-4 majority for the repubs). The only way to change it would be for the House to vote to change it, and that isn't going to happen.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)I agree with your interpretation of House procedures. While irregular, this move is neither illegal nor particularly disreputable.
I love the energy we see in this thread, but much of it is misplaced.
-Laelth
grasswire
(50,130 posts)Please.
onenote
(42,702 posts)Working closely with a former Rules Committee staffer who is widely acknowledged as one of the preeminent experts on House procedures.
I've cited to the Library of Congress page that describes the process by which the Rules Committee proposed, and the entire House approved (on a 228-199 vote) the rule governing the House's consideration of the CR. I've cited to the Constitutional provision giving the House the power to determine the rules governing its proceedings.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:HE00368:@@@X
Art I, Sec. 5 Constitution.
If I've misstated anything, please describe and provide support and I'll happily concede my error. And I won't demand anyone's "credentials" either.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)onenote
(42,702 posts)cui bono
(19,926 posts)grasswire
(50,130 posts)These days, a good proportion of what we see as argument is just crapola. We can't afford to just accept blindly. You don't say whether that staffer is/was Democratic or Republican.
BTW, I didn't demand your credentials. I politely asked.
Thanks again.
onenote
(42,702 posts)I've worked on and donated to Democratic campaigns exclusively for my entire adult life. But like most people who work on legislative matters, I have dealt with repubs as well (the types of legislation I've worked on -- communications and intellectual property laws) have for the most part not been "partisan" bills, at least not for the first couple of decades. In recent years, the tactics employed by the repubs, while not "illegal" have made things much more partisan and made it much more difficult to get things done.
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)and backs up his facts. He is not given to grandstanding or shooting from the hip.
He was our Representative until Maryland changed the district boundaries a couple of years ago.
I would take anything Van Hollen says extremely seriously.
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)been like being with the Heaven's Gate people when they were mixing the Phenobarbital into the apple sauce and putting on their matching space suits in preparation for the comet to take them to the "level above human."
wundermaus
(1,673 posts)This process by which a minority can overwhelm and effectively block the majority and install itself as dictator is evidence of a coup d'état. The republicans did it and the democrats let it happen. There is no need to discuss further this singular event. We as a nation have been taken over by the corporatists. We all know what the next step is.
http://www.history.org/media/audio/Libordth.mp3
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)are up for indictments for RICO charges and it needs to be done yesterday, and have them arrested.
And the President order the U.S. Treasury to send a bill to the RNC for the wasted money due to the shutdown, payable NOW, and then hire 200,000 collectors to collect every single penny of the $5 billion that the RNC owes us.
leeroysphitz
(10,462 posts)onenote
(42,702 posts)The Constitution expressly gives authority to the House (and the Senate) to determine the rules governing their respective proceedings.
But enjoy your Constitution-less fantasies.
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)None is there now because only one man controls the Government and that is Eric Cantor.
And he will be alone responsible for the holdup and the rules change. And it is illegal, and the rules was changed without a full House vote.
It would have not been approved in the first place.
onenote
(42,702 posts)Which is the rule proposed by the rules committee to govern the procedures by which the House would consider the CR (H.J.Res. 59).
It is all spelled out here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:HE00368:@@@X
Look, you are clearly in over your head. Following the steps in the legislative process can be confusing. But you at least ought to try to understand it.
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)What more do you want?
I said they are still engaging in illegal activities - and it's called Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization laws...
onenote
(42,702 posts)Really? That's the most ridiculous thing you've posted, even more ridiculous than your unwillingness to concede that you were wrong about the rule being voted on by the entire house (I'm sorry, but "may be you're right is the equivalent of the "if I offended anyone" concession that certain people, not usually found on this board, seem to favor.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)To stop the coup?
Berlum
(7,044 posts)in the wee hours of the night the Republicons work to undermine the US of A.
Why do Republicons embrace OCCULTISM, and strive to hide all they do from public view?
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Berlum
(7,044 posts)And the Repubbies have a long & disgraceful track record of OCCULTISM. Notice also what they do to the truth and facts. There is a distinct pattern.
AZ Progressive
(3,411 posts)Goes to show just how blind Christians are in America when they can't see that Republicans resemble Satan more than God or Jesus.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Which is now up on YouTube for free:
Skip ahead to 1:43:00.
grasswire
(50,130 posts)onenote
(42,702 posts)And the fact that you don't see him running around yelling about it being illegal under RICO or some other law is because he understands that the Constitution gives authority to the House to make the rules that govern its proceedings and the party in power in a particular house generally gets to make those rules. Maybe its because he's smart enough to know that the time may be fast approaching where the Democratic majority in the Senate decides to change ITs rules.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)madfloridian
(88,117 posts)Twice in fact.
Madfloridian's Twitter
Thanks for the video.
silvershadow
(10,336 posts)to parlay his good fortune into a challenge for the speakership? He is belle of the ball I would say.
Stuart G
(38,427 posts)thecrow
(5,519 posts)is all I have to say about this. unfuckingbelivable
The Wizard
(12,545 posts)Orwell would blush. Pitchforks torches and rope.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)AZ Progressive
(3,411 posts)Thus it doesn't look like just yet that it also applies to anything to raising the debt ceiling.
onenote
(42,702 posts)alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)Harry Reid, take note: That's how these people want to play it? Shove 1,000 bills down their throats. End the 60 vote minimum.
ffr
(22,669 posts)Harry, two can play at that game. Make that rule change, first thing Monday morning.
How 'bout that!?
spanone
(135,831 posts)blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)... their right to bring a Senate resolution before the House".
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)And that needs to be made clear, I think.
The media needs to step up and lead with this story.
rbrnmw
(7,160 posts)MaeScott
(878 posts)joshcryer
(62,270 posts)The news should open with that quote, damn.
JohnnyRingo
(18,628 posts)Thanx for posting.
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)Well, people get sick, have accidents, etc.
Arcanetrance
(2,670 posts)use to his racist constituents. I hope he remembers to these crazy fucks he's not considered white and isn't part of their christian ideal for a country
egold2604
(369 posts)SonderKommandos were Jews doing the work of the Nazis in the Death Camps. Cantor, a Jew, is doing the work of the corporatists and Dominionists. He doesn't realize that when they totally take over the US, he, and all other Jews will be forced to move to Israel to ensure the Second Coming of their version of Christ, the Avenging God, who will smite all the Jews and other Heathens. He is a blight on the name of Judaism.
Shame of you SonderKommano Cantor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonderkommando
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)Baseball-sized hail would suffice.