Release: “House Democrats' Bipartisanship Leads to Progress
“Democrats Keep Promise to Run House in a More Bipartisan, Fair and Civil Manner
“Democrats are operating the House of Representatives in a more bipartisan, fair, and civil manner than it was run during 12 years of Republican rule. As legislation moves from committee, to the Rules Committee, to the Floor, Democrats are allowing greater debate, and providing Republicans more opportunities to express their views and affect legislation.”
(Hoyer release, 6/5/07) | Do-Nothing Democrats. “Still unanswered is whether Democrats will deliver on their campaign promises… House Democrats’ ‘Six for ‘06’ campaign pledge has so far amounted to ‘None in ‘07.’” (Washington Post editorial, 5/13/07)
Democrats Shut Minority Out of Debate. “Indeed, Democrats who used to rail against Republicans for bringing bills to the House floor for a final vote under a ‘closed rule’ -- meaning no amendments were allowed -- are now guilty of offering a greater number of closed-rule bills than Republicans did. Under GOP control an average of 35% of bills operated under a closed rule; the equivalent figure for this Democratic Congress is 45%”
(Opinion Journal, 5/17/07)
Democrats’ “Heavy Hand” in Rules Committee. “Instead, an analysis by Politico.com found that Democrats ‘are wielding a heavy hand on the House Rules Committee.... So far this year, Democrats have frequently prevented Republicans from offering amendments, limited debate in the committee and, just last week, maneuvered around chamber rules to protect a $23 million project for Rep. Jack Murtha.’”
(Opinion Journal, 5/17/07)
Threats, Spittle-Spraying Rants on House Floor. “Murtha has not disputed a Republican claim that he stormed across the House floor May 17 to confront Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich. Rogers had tried unsuccessfully to strike a $23 million Murtha earmark… the Democrat angrily told Rogers he should never seek earmarks of his own because ‘you're not going to get any, now or forever.’”
(AP, 5/22/07; AP 5/21/07)
“Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) exploded at a colleague on the Appropriations defense subcommittee, Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), on the House floor last week after Tiahrt voted in a private meeting to cut $23 million from a project in Murtha’s district … Murtha vented his anger against Tiahrt for voting last Wednesday to kill the center in Johnstown, Pa., by unleashing a loud, finger-jabbing, spittle-spraying piece of his mind, according to lawmakers who witnessed it. Murtha threatened to withdraw support from a defense project …”
(The Hill, 5/7/07)
Democrats’ Unprecedented Power Grab. “Republicans threw the House floor into procedural chaos Wednesday in a successful attempt to thwart what they decried as a Democratic ‘power grab’ to alter House rules in a way that would limit long-standing minority rights to offer alternative measures on the floor.”
(Roll Call, 5/17/07)
“Never during the recent Republican majorities was this idea considered -- not even in the darkest hours.”
(Washington Times editorial, 5/18/07) |
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