House Democrats discourage debates with GOP

[SpankMe]

WASHINGTON - In their zeal to protect their members from politically hazardous votes on issues such as gay marriage and gun control, Democrats running the House of Representatives are taking extraordinary steps to muzzle Republicans in this summer's debates on spending bills.

On Thursday, for example, Republicans had hoped to force debates on abortion, school vouchers and medical marijuana, as well as gay marriage and gun control, as part of House consideration of the federal government's contribution to the District of Columbia's city budget.

No way, Democrats said.

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...it has allowed lawmakers with little seniority to have their say on doling out the one-third of the federal budget passed by Congress each year. It was a right the Democrats zealously defended when they were the minority party from 1995 through 2006.

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Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., acknowledged in a brief interview that one reason for restricting amendments is to save members of his party from having to cast politically painful votes.

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Even some Democrats are chaffing at the heavy-handed clampdown on debate.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31947748/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

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I'm sorry, but this is bullshit. The fricking Republicans were doing crap like this to us the whole time they were in charge. Now, we're doing it. We no longer have the right to complain about this when they do it to us next time around. It's corrupt.

And the fact that it's to save Democrats from having to cast "painful votes" is pure cowardice. If we are to gain and hold any respect, we need to get out there and proudly vote our conscience and push for what is right - like yes for gay marriage, yes for reproductive choice, yes for more logical marijuana laws and yes for keeping powerful guns off the streets of crime-ridden big cities.

If we don't then we're a bunch of scared chickens. Let the Repugs try their endless debate nonsense. That'll give us a PR victory as we portray them as bullshit, cranky obstructionists.

This party needs balls.

[AlinPA]

1. To hell with the filthy republicans and their goddam bullshit "issues".

[TankLV]

2. Good - after all, doesn't the country have just SLIGHTLY more IMPORTANT issues to deal with?!!!

It's about fucking time...!!!