Moderate House Republicans failed to line up votes for separate plan
Updated 7:30 p.m. ET 9/30/13
Washington (CNN) - Moderate House Republicans who wanted to fund the government with no strings attached failed to line up votes against a House GOP plan to renew federal coffers while chipping away at Obamacare.
Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pennsylvania, Rep. Peter King, R-New York, and others feverishly made calls to stage what would have been effectively a revolt.
They said they were hoping there were enough GOP members like them who were fed up with the tactics of the leadership that they can find enough votes to defeat the first procedural measure, known as the rule.
That would have prevented the House GOP leadership from even bringing their plan up at all. Because the moderate Republicans failed to generate enough support, the broader GOP bill that includes anti-Obamacare provisions will now go to a final vote.
Given the makeup of the GOP caucus, the House Republican moderates needed 17 Republicans to agree to defy their leadership, and be willing to face what will undoubtedly be the wrath of the conservative grassroots.
"We have people in the conference, I believe, who'd be just as happy to have the government shutdown," King said. "They live in these narrow echochambers. They listen to themselves and their tea party friends. That keeps them going, forgetting that the rest of the country thinks we're crazy."
I have voted Republican my entire adult life, and am disgusted with the Republican party at this point. I would be tempted to vote Democratic next time I get the chance, but if the moderates can demonstrate that they are wrestling control back from the extremists, I'll be encouraged.
To those of you who think that the extremists are going to help accomplish anything by being obstructionist, I wish you luck. Don't be surprised though if you find yourselves relegated to the "dustbin or history" though .... (to paraphrase Leon Trotsky, another extremist who was also relegated to the dustbin of history).
"They say they are hoping there are enough GOP members like them who are fed up with the tactics of the leadership that they can find enough votes to defeat the first procedural measure, known as the rule."
As someone else has already pointed out, the Hastert (sp?) rule is a self made Republican rule, not a congressional law. But, hey. I support each and every one of the moderate republicans who are at least trying to be adults in the sandbox brigade they consistently finds themselves being dragged into by the TeaParty.
Wow. i thought reasonable grownups in the GOP were extinct. I may actually be able to vote Republican again some day.
Mr Dent, as a PA resident, I applaud you
Well it's about time. I didn't think there were any more moderate republicans. I thought they had all bought the tin foil hats to party with the tea baggers. I used to like to listen to both sides, but since the republicans went totally insane, their opinions are irrelvant. I hope that's changing, but I won't hold my breath.
I didn't realize there were any moderate Repubs left, so I am pleasantly surprised. Fingers crossed.
Time to dissolve the old GOP and allow a new party to emerge, one that actually cares about the people of this country.
Ah well, if they get booted out of Congress, to paraphrase "The Distinguished Gentleman", they can always run for President
Good for Congressmen King and Dent! Enough of the childish antics of late! Please quit holding the American people hostage while partisan politicians play the same old games. We the people expect you all to act like adults – even if all you do is actually "act"!
The Tea Party is going down on this one.
Responsible Republicans are waking up.
The damage is done.
Makes me furious that stupid Tea Party who believe their way is the only way. We used to have a lot of modern, decent Republicans. Even when they were tough, they always put the country before their personal agenda. It cost billions to shut the government down, and it saves nothing. And these pathetic, so called leaders actually still get paid while our troops, the true heroes, only get IOUs.
Next GOP campaign slogan.
"I was never part of the tea party."
I wish them luck. If they were in charge of the Republican Party, I might actually vote Republican. The Tea Party is a parasite that has hijacked the Republican Party and the House of Representatives.
OBAMACARE – If it aint good enough for our politians to use then why should we think it is good enough for us Americans to use?
I wish they would de-fund it. What is there about forcing a person to buy insurance or get fined, or 'taxed' as the libs put it...is acceptable in a free society? What is it about having something shoved down your throat and forced to take it part of a free society? My taxes are already going up....way up because of Obamacare and I'll never see a tax break from it. I am now going to be taxed on the employer contribution of my health insurance. What was once a benefit is now considered taxable income. Not to mention the rates are going up, the deductible is going up, the copays are going up. I'll do better to claim disability and get a free ride from the liberals.
BOTH parties spent this country into the poorhouse and now so-called "moderates" want to do what they always do, vote demoblican. The Tea Party showed up in 2010 and said "hey, stop spending so much money." So CLEARLY its all THEIR fault.
This is all smoke and mirrors for the real issues such as the 85 billion per month going from the Fed to the banks. Soon, it will be 100 billion per month. How much is enough of this stupidity? A quarter TRILLION per month? Idiots.
Honestly, has anyone looked at how much of the government would shut down? Mostly it's departments that I've never even heard of! The government is broke and it keeps reaching into our pockets. Let them shut it down and we'll quickly
find out that we don't need the government nearly as much as they need us! Time to stop the games and get the government under control. Everyone keeps talking about shutting the Federal parks- big deal – in most parts of this country you pay to go to a museum or park so charge for these amenities, the people will still come. This shutdown could be the best thing that ever happened to the American people!!
Please! The reasonable Republicans must wrest control away from the extremists who are not only taking down the party, but taking the nation with them. The Teaparty ideology is harmful and destructive. This Congress passed nothing to move the country forward - instead they are regressive - pushing for draconian legislation against women and minorities, aided by like-minded Republican governors.
Do it, let the aca ride. Dems will pay for it in the next 3-4 election cycles if you can keep from screwing it up
It's amazing how fast bills travel between the House and the Senate in the "hour of crisis". Why haven't they applied this much effort to the problem since the last time they needed to "fund" the government? At least the House is putting forth proposed bills...while Omnipotent Winey Reid passes final judgment for all before the bill is birthed. And a final note of interest: the Government states that non-essential personnel will be furloughed while those necessary will be kept in place: see reference to Parks and Recreation; and Border Patrol articles. If the folks being furloughed are "non-essential" then why are we paying them on a normal basis? Let's get rid of the non-essential and there's your SAVINGS.
The congress should be penalized for a late budget and directed to do community service, and I don't mean anything difficult or easy, I would like each and everyone to do 40 hours for every week the budget is late doing something meaningful with the people of this nation who they need to understand better. Get them helping wounded soldiers, senior citizens, needy children, or help so many others that can bring perspective to themselves about the lives of Americans.
SHUT ER DOWN and send a pizza to the oval orifice...
I wonder what Grover Norquist the real architect of this shutdown is doing?
screw the conservative grassroots. THe biggest reason why there is such gridlock in washington right now is because of them and them alone. Before they showed up a filibuster was a rare sight on the floor of the senate or the house and the threat of a government shutdown was non-existant. They want to govern recklessly and that will help no-one but big corporations and the elite that they claim to hate so much. It's high time the REAL G.O.P showed them the backdoor.
Take the hen house back from the foxes!!