Senate Repukes move to stop all hearings in retaliation for HCR...

[cynatnite]

There is a little-known rule in the Senate stating that hearings can’t happen after 2:00 p.m. each day without unanimous consent. However, every day, at the start of business, the Senate generally agrees, by unanimous consent, to waive this rule and continue with the necessary business of holding hearings. Here is the rule:

5. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the rules, when the Senate is in session, no committee of the Senate or any subcommittee thereof may meet, without special leave, after the conclusion of the first two hours after the meeting of the Senate commenced and in no case after two o’clock postmeridian unless consent therefor has been obtained from the majority leader and the minority leader (or in the event of the absence of either of such leaders, from his designee). The prohibition contained in the preceding sentence shall not apply to the Committee on Appropriations or the Committee on the Budget. The majority leader or his designee shall announce to the Senate whenever consent has been given under this subparagraph and shall state the time and place of such meeting. The right to make such announcement of consent shall have the same priority as the filing of a cloture motion.

Republicans, however, are now refusing to give unanimous consent and are blocking the hearings. Today, during a Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on transparency, Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) announced that he had to stop the proceedings because of Republican blocks:

I have just been advised by my staff that on the floor of the Senate there has been a move to stop all the proceedings in hearings that are going on in the Senate, and we are compelled to stop at this point in time. And I regret it, but there are rules here when we reach point in time and unless there’s unanimous consent to proceed for — as you may recall — unless there’s unanimous consent in the Senate to be able to proceed, we can only go on for so long and then we have to stop our hearings. And the whistle has blown. Unfortunately, we and all the other committees and subcommittees that are holding hearings have to, at this time, cease. I feel very badly about that. It’s not my doing.

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/23/senate-unanimous-consent/

[blondeatlast]

1. So let 'em have their hissy--and make sure it's televised.

What a freakin' bunch of babies.

[damntexdem]

10. Yes, the Senate can get in it's 20 hours before 2pm.

And do make sure that the termination of all hearings at 2pm is televised.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Republicans trying to stop health care with a shit fit...

They will go to any lenght to stop a preogressive bill.

[Ozymanithrax]

3. Republicans trying to stop health care with a shit fit...

They will go to any lengths to stop a progressive bill.

[laughingliberal]

5. Or a center right non-progressive bill, apparently. nt

[Ozymanithrax]

8. Health care, for the first time, Health Care is an entitlement for all,

like Social Security. The only question is what is the best way to expand the entitlement to the maximum number of people in the most efficient way. Before the bill, Health care was for those who could afford it, and the elderly (many of whom could not even afford to use the benefit).

That alone makes it a progressive bill.

The many other good features about this bill make it better. Many of the features need to be improved or changed outright.

What is ironic about this, is that Republicans know that it is a progressive bill, as do the Health Insurance companies. That is why it was opposed 100% by the right. They know a progressive bill when they see it. They know that the only way to stop one is to make sure it isn't enacted. They were successful at doing that for more than 40 years.

As progressives, we should now be talking about what to do next, about who we can influence to expand the ability of Americans to obtain this entitlement, about who we can elect. As a progressive, that is what I'm doing.

[laughingliberal]

14. Even the people who wrote the bill haven't claimed we'll cover 'all' .

Yes, the Republicans have called it a government takeover of healthcare but that's not what I see.

Yes, we do need to talk about what to do next. But i saw Dean say, today, he doesn't think we'll see anything done before the elections and maybe not even before the Presidential election. And the party leaders, so far, have endorsed Blue Dogs against progressive primary challengers. I hope we have sense enough to vote for the progressives.

[damntexdem]

11. To quote someone: this is a big fucking deal.

;-)

[RKP5637]

4. These R's don't have the maturity to be in congress, but that's a worn out statement, isn't it. n/t

[DFLforever]

6. They've gotten in a hole they can't dig themselves out of

[quinnox]

7. a bunch of mature men supposedly

and they are acting like they are around 10 years old.

[The Genealogist]

9. I hope the American people will punish their refusal to govern in Nov

I doubt they will, but I can dream, can't I? Simple choice: do you want reps who will govern, or reps who will throw temper tantrums like a cranky toddler? You decide, America.

[NAO]

12. They know in their (hard) hearts that Frum was right about Waterloo

And I remember articles at CommonDreams.org a few months back saying that the Republicans were opposing HCR, because if Americans got it, they would be destroyed.

Maybe they are fighting so hard because they really are fighting for their lives, and the possibility of ever having their "way of life" again.

,,,

OK, I admit it...I pulled out my ABBA albums yesterday and listened to "Waterloo" . It enhanced my festive mood.

[ladywnch]

13. thank you for once again demonstrating that you are the obstruction party. perfect example. n/t

[alfredo]

15. Spread the word

[hayu_lol]

16. Repugnant War Chant:

"When in danger, when in doubt, RUN IN CIRCLES, SCREAM AND SHOUT."

How appropriate this message is.

[alfredo]

18. It's their followers that are scary

[usregimechange]

17. Time to go nuclear, I am sick of it.

[riderinthestorm]

19. Why can't Dems pre-empt this move by shifting the work day from 5 am - 2 pm.

There are millions of Americans who would LOVE that schedule.

Of course the Dem Senators need to denounce this pettiness loud and clear but there's no reason to shut down business completely. Just work around their shittiness.