Republicans Shut Out of Stimulus Conference Negotiations

[5711-Marine]

Republicans Shut Out of Stimulus Conference Negotiations
by Connie Hair (more by this author)
Posted 02/11/2009 ET
Updated 02/11/2009 ET

Republicans have caught the Democrats in a midnight “stimulus” power play that seeks to cut Republican conferees out of the House-Senate negotiations to resolve a final version of the Obama “stimulus” package. Staff members from the offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) met last night to put together the “stimulus” conference report.

They intend to attempt to shove this $1.3 trillion spending bill through in the dead of the night without Republican input so floor action can take place in both chambers on Thursday.

I spoke with House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) moments ago about this latest version of Democratic “bipartisanship.” Pence told me, “I think the American people deserve to know that legislation that would comprise an amount equal to the entire discretionary budget of the United States of America is being crafted without a single House Republican in the room.”

How many Senate RINOs will go along with this? Probably, just enough for the Dems to get away with it.

Connie Hair is a freelance writer, a former speechwriter for Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and a former media and coalitions advisor to the Senate Republican Conference.

[PocketProtector]

Well well....stimulus bill....codeword for Government takeover !!

[adymond]

Will THIS be enough for those three asswipes to find their spines?

[jmanzini]

Pelosi and Reid, our modern day version of Bonnie and Clyde. They're robbing us blind.

[billamj]

Gee, I'm totally astounded by this show of a lack of bipartisanship.

[phillyd2]

Just goes to show that elections matter. They got what they deserved for being so bitch slapped by the Dems. Want a seat at the table? What to own the table? Get more votes than the other guys and when in power do what you said you were going to do. Sickens me to no end to now see them crying like little school girls.

[adymond]

Just goes to show that elections matter. They got what they deserved for being so bitch slapped by the Dems. Want a seat at the table? What to own the table? Get more votes than the other guys and when in power do what you said you were going to do. Sickens me to no end to now see them crying like little school girls.

This is the type of thing that didn't happen when it was the other way around though. Any time the Democrats were not involved (even in some sort of token way) they screamed and cried about the fascist government policies and how they were being forced on them. The Democrats now have the majority and act as though they have the monolopy.

This is not an all or nothing type of government here. Unless there is no opposition they should be allowing representation from all parties represented in the House and Senate. We are not a country that succumbs to mob rule where the majority gets to do what they like.

[autotech6506]

if they want republicans to vote for this bill don't you think that they would want some Republicans there too? Now the republicans that they need will hopefully NOT vote for this now because they were snubbed out alltogether. Before long there will be a lynch-mob for these senators and representatives if they keep pulling all this crap.

[Morel42]

This is the type of thing that didn't happen when it was the other way around though. Any time the Democrats were not involved (even in some sort of token way) they screamed and cried about the fascist government policies and how they were being forced on them. The Democrats now have the majority and act as though they have the monolopy.

This is not an all or nothing type of government here. Unless there is no opposition they should be allowing representation from all parties represented in the House and Senate. We are not a country that succumbs to mob rule where the majority gets to do what they like.

Actually it is currently. The Framers of the Constitution didn't have parties in mind when creating the system. Sure some small groups for one issue or two.. But not 2 super parties that control everything or nothing..

So things got wonky...

[phillyd2]

Actually in both houses of Congress it is pretty much mob rule - meaning the ones with the most votes rule. Mob rule does not have to be just by party, it can also be per issue. Nevertheless the way for the Rep to solve this problem is to gain back both houses and they can only do that by having a governing philosophy which should include something more than yelling NO. Something more that doing the exact same thing when they were in power and then being surprised when the voters turn their backs on them. They pissed it all way with their love of big government, ever increasing spending and trying to be loved by the media. F them all!