Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
Fri Dec 12, 2014, 09:59 AM Dec 2014

White House and GOP Scramble to Pass Budget After Revolt by Democrats--(The Rise of the Warren Wing)

White House and GOP scramble to pass budget after revolt by Democrats

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/dec/12/government-shutdown-averted-as-house-passes-omnibus-spending-bill

Republicans formed an unlikely alliance with the White House in a late-night scramble to pass a $1.1tn federal budget over the objections of House Democrats, who claim it has been hijacked by Wall Street lobbyists and campaign finance interests.

In dramatic scenes that mirrored the lead-up to the government shutdown of October 2013, White House chief of staff Denis McDonough spent three hours locked in talks with the House Democratic caucus on Thursday night trying to persuade its members to drop their opposition to the so-called “cromnibus” and pleading with them that it was the best deal available.

Eventually, with less than three hours to go until another government shutdown, House speaker John Boehner decide to gamble on receiving sufficient support from Democrats to overcome a rebellion on the right of his own party and called a final vote.

“Thank you and Merry Christmas,” said Boehner as he secured 219 votes, one more than he needed to guarantee passage and including support from 57 Democrats. The 206 no votes were bolstered by 67 Republicans, more than expected, who are angry that their party is not using the budget to challenge president Obama more aggressively on immigration reform.


==snip===

But it is the split in the Democratic party that is likely to have longer-term consequences. Many Democrats are furious that the 1,600-page omnibus bill included two unrelated concessions to financial interest groups: a tenfold increase in campaign limits for donations to political parties and candidates, and a reversal of the Dodd-Frank banking reforms that will allow public bailouts of banks taking risky derivatives bets.

The White House insists it opposes both measures in principle too, but its decision to nonetheless back passage of the bill in the interests of political expediency has enraged many in the party.

“If you don’t stand for something, you will stand for anything,” veteran civil rights campaigner and congressman John Lewis reportedly told the party’s closed-door caucus session.
Reaction from Democrats leaving the crunch budget meeting.

“I don’t see the benefit of us losing our soul over two great issues that are the problems of our time,” said another Democratic congresswoman shortly after the caucus briefly united to vote unanimously against a procedural motion in the run-up to the main vote.

The fact that so many Democrats, including minority leader Nancy Pelosi, were willing to defy the White House suggests waning influence of Obama over the party after its heavy midterms defeat.

But it also hints at the rising power of what has been called the Elizabeth Warren wing of the party: leftwing Democrats appalled at measures to weaken Wall Street reforms, with the president apparently willing to turn a blind eye.


Warren has hitherto insisted she is not running for president herself, but spoke out passionately against the “cromnibus” and presents a growing challenge to what her supporters dismissively call the Wall Street wing of the party and its figurehead: Hillary Clinton.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/dec/12/government-shutdown-averted-as-house-passes-omnibus-spending-bill

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
4. Meanwhile, no one mentions that it's Republican's masters on Wall Street who least want a shutdown.
Fri Dec 12, 2014, 12:17 PM
Dec 2014

cstanleytech

(26,280 posts)
5. You know there is something the republicans arent considering and that is if there is another crash
Fri Dec 12, 2014, 12:40 PM
Dec 2014

of the banks after this and we the taxpayers have to suck it up that its going to be the fault of the republicans and if it happens in the next 2 years with republicans in control of the house and senate.............................

world wide wally

(21,740 posts)
8. I think it's probably a three year plan. They want the White House badly.
Fri Dec 12, 2014, 12:55 PM
Dec 2014

Then they can secure the Supreme Court for another 30 or 40 years.

genwah

(574 posts)
9. The (&^$^&%#$ budget hasn't passed yet, dammit! We have until Wednesday.
Fri Dec 12, 2014, 06:44 PM
Dec 2014
The House on Friday passed a five-day measure keeping the government funded through Wednesday, buying more time for the Senate to consider a larger funding bill.

The new stopgap bill was cleared by unanimous consent during a House pro forma session.


Make some noise! www.senate.gov
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»White House and GOP Scram...