The House Middle Class Tax Cut Will Become Law?

[spotbird]

Brace yourself for some procedural jargon: Dems once believed they were faced with two mixed options for holding this vote. The first was to hold an up-or-down vote under the normal rules. But that would give Republicans the opportunity to introduce what's known as a motion to recommit -- a procedural right of the minority that would have allowed them to tack an extension of tax cuts for high-income earners on to the legislation.

The second option -- suspending the rules -- would have foreclosed on that right, but would have required a two-thirds majority of the House for passage: 290 votes, an impossible hurdle.

But Democrats figured out a way to avoid this. They're attaching their tax cut plan as an amendment to a separate bill . That legislation already passed the House, and has just been returned from the Senate. The rules say it can't be recommitted. So the GOP's hands are tied.


http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/boehner-blasts-dems-chickencrap-majority-rules-tax-cut-gambit-1.php?ref=fpa

This means a senate vote is unnecessary?

[thereismore]

1. The senate vote is always necessary for any law. nt

[spotbird]

2. The senate voted. nt

[stopbush]

5. The Senate has not voted on this amendment.

The bill will need to go back to the Senate for approval with this amendment attached. The Rs could filibuster the bill in its present form if they want.

[Schema Thing]

3. Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet.

[Parker CA]

4. This goes back to the Senate if passed by the House. nt

[WCGreen]

6. But I don't know if they can filibuster the bill...

[MineralMan]

7. I'm not sure about that either.

I think there may be a way to skip that process and have a vote. But I don't completely understand the mechanism on this one.