Democrats Block Senate From Passing House Bills To Fund National Guard, Parks, NIH, Vets
Today in Washington, D.C. - Oct. 3, 2013
The Senate reconvened at 10:30 AM and began a period of morning business. This morning, Senate Republicans asked consent for the Senate to pass several House-passed bills to keep veterans services and the National Institutes of Health running, to keep parks open, and to keep National Guard members paid, but Democrats objected to all of them.
The House reconvened at 10:00 AM. In spite of the Senate Democrats refusal to consider any House bills except for one Continuing Resolution to fund everything, today will continue consideration of the following individual funding bills:
H.R. 3230 — "Making continuing appropriations during a Government shutdown to provide pay and allowances to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who perform inactive-duty training during such period."
H.J. Res. 72 — "Making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes."
Yesterday, the House passed:
H.J. Res. 70 (252-173)— "Making continuing appropriations for National Park Service operations, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes."
H.J. Res. 73 (254-171)— "Making continuing appropriations for the National Institutes of Health for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes."
Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) responded today to President Obama’s remarks in Maryland.“Republicans have sent bill after bill after bill to the Senate to keep the government open, and Democrats have rejected every one of them – refusing to even talk about our differences. We want to resolve this dispute as soon as possible, but that will require Washington Democrats to realize neither side gets everything it wants. With Obamacare proving to be a train wreck, the president’s insistence on steamrolling ahead with this flawed program is irresponsible. We must provide American families basic fairness and the same exemptions from the law that big businesses have already been granted. It’s time for the president and Senate Democrats to come to the negotiating table and drop their my-way-or-the-highway approach that gave us this shutdown.”
Speaking on the Senate floor this morning, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said, “Nobody wants this shutdown. Democrats say they don’t want it. Republicans certainly don’t want it. So we all agree on that much. The question at this point is how do we resolve the issues that truly divide us? And the point I’ve been making all week is this: the only thing keeping the government from opening back up is the Democrats’ refusal to apply a simple principle of fairness when it comes to Obamacare. To treat everybody the same. Basically all the House is asking for at this point is a level playing field when it comes to Obamacare. That’s about the only thing standing in the way of the government opening back up. And it’s a pretty reasonable request. And if Washington Democrats can’t agree to that, can they at least join us in making sure Veterans programs are funded, that the Honor Flight Veterans can visit the World War II memorial, and that the National Institutes for Health can continue its research? Can they at least agree to that? That’s just the right thing to do. It responds directly to the concerns that a number of our Democrat colleagues have raised. And it’s the same thing this Congress voted to do with the brave men and women of our military.”
Unfortunately, the answer from Democrats turned out to be “no.” As Republican leaders asked one-by-one to approve sensible bills the House has passed, Senate Democrats objected to each of them. Leader McConnell asked consent to pass a bill to continue funding programs for veterans. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) objected. Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) then asked consent to pass a bill funding the National Park Service and the World War II Memorial. Reid again objected. Then Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Vice Chair of the Republican Conference, asked consent to pass a bill funding the National Institutes of Health, something Democrats have expressed repeated concern over. But Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) objected. Then Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (R-SD) asked consent to approve a bill keeping the National Guard and reserves funded. But once again Durbin objected.
President Obama and other Democrats continue to refuse to negotiate. In an interview with CNBC’s Larry Kudlow yesterday, Leader McConnell said, “The President continues to maintain privately the position that he has had publicly, which is he doesn't want to negotiate about the continuing resolution to operate the government or over raising the debt ceiling. . . . There will have to be a compromise no matter what the President says today because his party doesn't control the entire government. . . . The American people have frequently elected a divided government. When they do that, they don't expect us to do nothing, to not talk to each other.”
The president refuses to negotiate a solution and Senate Democrats refuse to pass bills that would address some of effects of a government shutdown, all of which the'’ve highlighted in recent days. As Leader McConnell said, ‘The House has sent over a number of different proposals, including . . . one to go to conference and have a discussion about this. Senate Democrats voted that down, too. Who’s being unreasonable here?”
Tags: Washington, D.C., Senate, house To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
The Senate reconvened at 10:30 AM and began a period of morning business. This morning, Senate Republicans asked consent for the Senate to pass several House-passed bills to keep veterans services and the National Institutes of Health running, to keep parks open, and to keep National Guard members paid, but Democrats objected to all of them.
The House reconvened at 10:00 AM. In spite of the Senate Democrats refusal to consider any House bills except for one Continuing Resolution to fund everything, today will continue consideration of the following individual funding bills:
H.R. 3230 — "Making continuing appropriations during a Government shutdown to provide pay and allowances to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who perform inactive-duty training during such period."
H.J. Res. 72 — "Making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes."
Yesterday, the House passed:
H.J. Res. 70 (252-173)— "Making continuing appropriations for National Park Service operations, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes."
H.J. Res. 73 (254-171)— "Making continuing appropriations for the National Institutes of Health for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes."
Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) responded today to President Obama’s remarks in Maryland.“Republicans have sent bill after bill after bill to the Senate to keep the government open, and Democrats have rejected every one of them – refusing to even talk about our differences. We want to resolve this dispute as soon as possible, but that will require Washington Democrats to realize neither side gets everything it wants. With Obamacare proving to be a train wreck, the president’s insistence on steamrolling ahead with this flawed program is irresponsible. We must provide American families basic fairness and the same exemptions from the law that big businesses have already been granted. It’s time for the president and Senate Democrats to come to the negotiating table and drop their my-way-or-the-highway approach that gave us this shutdown.”
Speaking on the Senate floor this morning, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said, “Nobody wants this shutdown. Democrats say they don’t want it. Republicans certainly don’t want it. So we all agree on that much. The question at this point is how do we resolve the issues that truly divide us? And the point I’ve been making all week is this: the only thing keeping the government from opening back up is the Democrats’ refusal to apply a simple principle of fairness when it comes to Obamacare. To treat everybody the same. Basically all the House is asking for at this point is a level playing field when it comes to Obamacare. That’s about the only thing standing in the way of the government opening back up. And it’s a pretty reasonable request. And if Washington Democrats can’t agree to that, can they at least join us in making sure Veterans programs are funded, that the Honor Flight Veterans can visit the World War II memorial, and that the National Institutes for Health can continue its research? Can they at least agree to that? That’s just the right thing to do. It responds directly to the concerns that a number of our Democrat colleagues have raised. And it’s the same thing this Congress voted to do with the brave men and women of our military.”
Unfortunately, the answer from Democrats turned out to be “no.” As Republican leaders asked one-by-one to approve sensible bills the House has passed, Senate Democrats objected to each of them. Leader McConnell asked consent to pass a bill to continue funding programs for veterans. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) objected. Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) then asked consent to pass a bill funding the National Park Service and the World War II Memorial. Reid again objected. Then Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Vice Chair of the Republican Conference, asked consent to pass a bill funding the National Institutes of Health, something Democrats have expressed repeated concern over. But Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) objected. Then Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (R-SD) asked consent to approve a bill keeping the National Guard and reserves funded. But once again Durbin objected.
President Obama and other Democrats continue to refuse to negotiate. In an interview with CNBC’s Larry Kudlow yesterday, Leader McConnell said, “The President continues to maintain privately the position that he has had publicly, which is he doesn't want to negotiate about the continuing resolution to operate the government or over raising the debt ceiling. . . . There will have to be a compromise no matter what the President says today because his party doesn't control the entire government. . . . The American people have frequently elected a divided government. When they do that, they don't expect us to do nothing, to not talk to each other.”
The president refuses to negotiate a solution and Senate Democrats refuse to pass bills that would address some of effects of a government shutdown, all of which the'’ve highlighted in recent days. As Leader McConnell said, ‘The House has sent over a number of different proposals, including . . . one to go to conference and have a discussion about this. Senate Democrats voted that down, too. Who’s being unreasonable here?”
Tags: Washington, D.C., Senate, house To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 12:10 PM - Post Link
2 Comments:
Call your democrats senator and tell you are going to vote them out if they do not pass the House bill.
Here’s Your Target List of Wavering Republicans
The Legislative Action Center is up and running again
UPDATE on GOA’s site: First, a note about GOA’s Legislative Action Center, which is hosted and managed by Congressional Quarterly. Many of you tried to take action on our alert on Tuesday, but found that the site was not working.
CQ had “fixed” some broken features over the weekend, but apparently, they “fixed things real good” -- it was impossible to send messages to House Reps. Well, CQ has now repaired their mistake, thus making it possible for you to take action on our most recent alert entitled “Obama: I will not negotiate.”
As always, thank you so much for taking action and for letting us know when the site is not running as it should. You guys are our “first responders” in the battle to preserve our liberties, and we rely heavily on you to let us know right away if you are experiencing problems with the Legislative Action Center.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: According to The Washington Post (10/1/13), there are now 12 Republicans who are willing to support a “clean” Continuing Resolution.
Translation: They are willing to stab gun owners in the back and to vote with Democrats in funding the ENTIRE government -- including voting to fund the unpopular, anti-gun ObamaCare law.
They are:
1) Scott Rigell (R-VA)
2) Pat Meehan (R-PA)
3) Charlie Dent (R-PA)
4) Peter King (R-NY)
5) Devin Nunes (R-CA)
6) Jon Runyan (R-NJ)
7) Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
8) Frank Wolf (R-VA)
9) Michael Grimm (R-NY)
10) Rob Wittman (R-VA)
11) Erik Paulsen (R-MN)
12) Lou Barletta (R-PA)
Plus, there are four more who, according to the Post, are on the fence and might be soon voting with the 12 above. They are:
13) Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
14) Steve Womack (R-AR)
15) Dennis Ross (R-FL)
16) Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)
ACTION: Please contact your Representative. You can use the Legislative Action Center to send a message to your legislators:
a. Please make sure you have sent yesterday’s pre-written message. Click here to get Tuesday’s message.
b. We are also providing you new text (for today) so we can keep the pressure on! Click here to get today’s message.
c. For the 16 Republican Representatives who are ready to raise the white flag, you can simply copy-n-paste the paragraph below and add it to your letter (as a new 2nd paragraph):
“But according to The Washington Post (10/1/13) I see that you are ready to stab gun owners in the back and to vote with Democrats in funding the ENTIRE government -- including voting to fund the unpopular, anti-gun ObamaCare law. I urge you NOT TO CAVE!!!”
MORE CORRUPTION!
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