WASHINGTON (CNN) – House Democrats expressed frustration Friday with their Senate colleagues after being forced to stay in town to approve a spending bill to keep the federal government from shutting down.
An exasperated Rep. David Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee - which writes the spending bills - exited the House floor and curtly said, "There's no point in whining. I just want to get things done."
The Senate's inability to pass a $410 billion government spending bill for the remainder of 2009 on Thursday night meant the House had to pass a temporary spending measure to keep the government operating. After voting Friday 328-50 to pass the stopgap remedy, some House Democrats accused senators of neglecting their duties.
"We'll stay all night if we can't approve something. They just go home for the weekend," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York.
"I suppose there is a sense of frustration that we couldn't move forward," said Rep Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut.
Some of the House's most liberal members have complained about the Senate Democratic leadership's inability to pass legislation already approved by the House, such as the nearly $800 billion economic stimulus bill. That legislation was held up by a bipartisan group of Senate moderates, and the resulting bill was less appealing to many House Democrats.
But DeLauro acknowledged the political landscape of the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to approve all controversial legislation, and insisted that future policy initiatives will not be derailed.
"They have a certain set of circumstances that exist there. We are two separate, individual bodies," she said.
Wow, does this mean that perhaps some of the dummycrats are actually listening to what WE taxpayers are concerned about LESS GOVERNMENT IN OUR LIFE
obviously the repubs are listening to Rush
and there in lies the problem
Rush needs stronger meds, these are only half working
please prescribe all the oxycotin he wants
The only solution to this mess is term limits. When they quit working for their own special interests (pork) and start finally working for the American public (us), then maybe there will be some real change.
My comment is really on another article that doesn't have any place to comment on. There are 20 states (all red) who have a problem with taking money from the stimulus bill, or parts of it. I say if they don't want the very small strings, they don't get any of it. Plan and simple, take or leave it, all of it. The bill was designed to simulate many aspects of the economy. So to all those states, are they Really standing principles or just playing politics? Stand up and be counted, all or nothing!
I sorry the Earmarks request come from the Republicans.
It is said that it is only about 1 percent that is pork. McCain is the main one whinning becasue he have 9 house and feel the economy is strong. Maybe for the Repulicans the economy is strong, but not to must American people.
HonestMistake,
Well Spoken!
god forbid these worthless pieces of s- would have to stay and actually work for a living! if they actually had to do anything productive they would all be fired in the real world – what a wonderful thought – fire them all and start over with people who know what to do and are willing to stay and get it done!!!
3 things we need:
1. A constitutional amendment for the line item veto.
2. A constitutional amendment for term limits.
3. Vote ALL incumbents out of office and start over with new rules created by "We The People".
A national referendum for 1 and 2 would be necessary. The Legislative Branch of government will not allow them to happen. 3 is unlikely since most Americans just don't get it.
"We'll stay all night if we can't approve something. They just go home for the weekend," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York.
Mr. B. in California,
Actually, Rep. McCarthy is saying that they (House of Representative) don't give up. They'll go as long as it takes to get the job done. The Senators are the ones who will drop the issue and go home for the weekend. Props go to Rep. McCarthy........Now apologize.
I think everyone in Congrss should be required to attest that they have read the entire bill that they are voting on as a prerequisite for them to be able to cast their vote. That would surely make the bills shorter and therefore have much less pork.
What this article should say is 'corrupt demmies disapprove of honest demmies and are very angry with them for actually listening to the people who pay their salaries.'
They should try working 6 days a week like the rest of us. Will someone remind these people we pay them 10 times what we make ourselves just to look out for our interests?
Please?
The nerve of them to make a fuss about working over the weekend. What they thought they were elected to do? Collect the tax payers money without working for it? They had better get a grip, or else they can join everyone else on the unemployment line.
Awe, the poor babies are complaining about actually having to earn their paychecks.
where are ALL the CHECKS and BALANCES
that were SUPPOSED to PREVENT
WHAT'S HAPPENING?