House GOP setbacks
Washington (CNN) - Another House Republican bill went down to defeat Wednesday, the second time in as many days.
The latest setback - a GOP spending cut bill calling for a refund to the U.S. Treasury of $180 million overpaid to a U.N. fund - failed to pass. The bill was part of Majority Leader Eric Cantor's weekly spending cut program called "You Cut."
Tuesday night a bill extending three provisions of the Patriot Act also failed. And earlier Tuesday GOP leaders pulled a trade bill that was scheduled for a vote after supporters expressed concerns it wouldn't pass.
The two bills that did get votes were brought to the floor under rules requiring a two-thirds majority to pass.
The measure extending key provisions of the Patriot Act fell short by seven votes, with 26 Republicans and 122 Democrats opposing it. The bill to bring back the money from the United Nations failed by 27 votes, but only two House Republicans opposed it, along with 167 Democrats.
House Republican aides blamed Democrats for the failed votes. In the case of the anti-terrorism provisions in the Patriot Act, they argued Democrats were opposing a request from their own president to retain key tools law enforcement and intelligence officials use to fight the war on terror. On the U.N. bill they said it was another case of Democrats opposing more spending cuts.
"This 'You Cut' was all hat and no cattle," House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer told reporters after the bill failed on the House floor. "It has zero budget impact," Hoyer said, noting that Democratic leaders did not "whip" the bill to formally urge Democrats to vote no.
But Hoyer said Rep. Howard Berman, the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the case against the bill at a meeting with Democrats Wednesday morning. According to Hoyer, Berman explained that $100 million of the United Nations fund was already pledged at the request of the New York City Police Department to pay for security costs around the U.N. building. The two House Republicans who opposed the bill were from New York - Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King and freshman Rep Michael Grimm.
The House of Representatives passed one bill unanimously on Wednesday – a measure to name a federal courthouse in Arizona after Judge John Roll, the federal judge who was killed last month when a gunman opened fire during Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' district meeting in a grocery store parking lot.
Republican leaders are planning to bring the Patriot Act bill back to the floor for a vote under rules requiring just a simple majority, but it's unclear when that will happen.
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Save 'em in the womb, keep 'em poor an uneducated, kill 'em in an elective war to spread "democracy" and wrap their coffins in the American flag.
Repeat.
"The House of Representatives passed one bill unanimously on Wednesday – a measure to name a federal courthouse in Arizona after Judge John Roll, the federal judge who was killed last month when a gunman opened fire during Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' district meeting in a grocery store parking lot."
At least that creates ONE temp job for a sign painter, how about the other 18 million without JOBS?
When is there going to be jobs legislature?
[The bill was part of Majority Leader Eric Cantor's weekly spending cut program called "You Cut."]
Eric needs to pay more attention to his district. I've lived here 8 years – in his district – and still waiting for an even to meet him!!!! Eric is nothing but a "tag-along" and he's always behind the scenes looking lost!!!
Perhaps the Republicans under the leadership of Rep. Cantor will realize they only have a majority for certain pieces of legislation. Republicans are not voting as their leadership would like. That is a very good idea!
Not a setback this what republicans do
They passed repeal health care bill , they know they can’t repeal the health care
You Republicans really want to cut spending? REALLY? Then give up your federal taxpayer funded, government run, socialized, SOCIALIST healthcare (you know, the kind of healthcare you don't want US to have), go buy your own plan from a PRIVATE health insurer, and pay for it with YOUR OWN MONEY! (just like you want US to do)
It looks as if the GOP campaign hyperbole has once again run into reality and the karmic wheel of politics is rolling over current Republican plans and past stupidity. The hypocrisy of the self-proclaimed family values party took a hit as well today with the revelations about Rep. Chris Lees marital infidelity (see BREAKING: N.Y. Rep. Chris Lee resigns after Craigslist personals scandal). The dishonesty of their rhetoric is only matched by their arrogance. It still amazes me that anyone votes for the GOP when all they ever get is the SOP (Same Old Party) with its tired lies and failure to act positively to address the the issues this country faces.
You think the Idiot Obama will make cuts when all he will do is print more money until America falls trembling to it's knees. Do something now. Impeach this sorry individual called a human.
Seems like my country is finally coming around.
Pub leaders will hear from the conserv Base and my bet is, both type of bills will pass the next time around. Also, there will now be more than $32 billion cut from the budget after many, many Pubs called, and wrote Pub leaders to cut as near $100 bil as possible so as to make Dems vote against them. This is still a win win for Pubs if they can do it and then communicate it.
John Boehner is a joke for the Speaker of the House. The Republicans should stick to something that their good at, like Foxs News and hate radio.
What goes around comes around. These blockheads blocked every vote when the Dems had the majority, now, by some miracle, the Dems seem to be returning the favor. I'm impressed, but doubt that the Dems' resolve will last.
If Republicans cannot after such a shellacking defeat, get any of thier legislative proposals past the house,let alone the senate.Then Cantor, Boehner and Hoyer should look to the physician heal thyself proverb!!
Stop trying to blame a few House democrats for thier lack of a coherent strategy and policy that meets the voters needs!
I am waiting for anything from the GOP dealing with jobs especially, the economy, budget deficit, $100bn (spending cuts are peanuts and not yet achieved by thier plans anyway) they have no serious proposals on deficit reduction as they exclude looking at tax changes and defence spend amongst others.
Banging away a health care ideologically, repeal, de-funding , is Joke the big costs do not come until 2014 anyway.
The Legislative branch needs to back off until the SCOTUS delivers its verdict on health care, and spend the time on Job creation and boosting the economy and tax reform. Far more beneficial than attacking health care!!
Regards,
Hodgson.
Where are the job initiatives from the GOP. There bhave too much symbolism so far. No more NOs to time to GOVERN.
Obama2012
Yes! The broken promises begin to mount! They screwed up with the Patriot Act because of overconfidence and now this. a bunch of amateurs were sent by the republicans last November and now we can see them for what they are??? Pure waste!
Aint so easy doing that governing thing now is it Republicans? Who are they kidding blaming Democrats for causing a bill to fail? Boehner must have failed high school math because the Republicans have the MAJORITY!!!!! Earth to Boner – it's your own right wing nut jobs that caused the bills you rushed to the floor to fail.
It's going to be fun watching the Republicans duel against each other all the way up to 2012 when after this new Congress does NOTHING, people will realize what a mistake it was to give the Republicans more power. Let them go back to crying on the sidelines – that is what they do best.
Wow...looks like a GOP majority is not enough to pass all legislation proposed by the GOP. Be still my beating heart.
Keep working on those cuts Cantor. Give up your salary, health insurance and medicare, social security...
By the way, where are those JOBS you promised us? Tick tock.
Jobs, jobs, jobs..... Wasn't that the promise? Number One Priority???? Look at all the legislation proposed in the House since mid-term elections..... Not one has anything to do with jobs. The Dems said the Repub agenda was all about politics and not about helping the country. Even the most die-hard Conservative would see more than a grain of truth now......
Love the GOP controlled house can't even pass their own bills.