House Republicans are pushing a new anti-regulation bill, but have run into some trouble. An unfortunate typo, for example, means the bill would block all new major regulations until unemployment hits 94%.
Today, the same bill stumbled again because of another typo -- the replacement references bill "H.Res. 783," when it should have said "H.Res. 738."
Republicans want Democrats to simply go along with easy procedural fixes, but the Dem minority isn't in a cooperative mood. It led to this strange appeal from Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) this morning.
For those who can't watch clips online, Foxx, overcome by emotion, decided to bring the Aurora massacre into the debate.
"A mistake was made. And then in attempting to correct the mistake, an extraordinarily minor other mistake was made. I would appeal to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to say, 'We are human beings. We know how to forgive mistakes.' Neither of these mistakes was made by a member. We're quite willing to overlook mistakes like this in the past.
"And I think in the spirit of comity, in the spirit that was established on this floor, this morning, we should move on, get to the work that the American people sent us here for, and understand as was quoted this morning by one of our colleagues -- our time is very precious. Don't waste it by playing gotcha games. Think about what we discussed earlier."
The "time is very precious" was apparently in reference to the mass shootings.
Let me translate Foxx's remarks: "We're trying to push a right-wing anti-regulation bill, which we know has no chance of becoming law, but which we hope to exploit in the election, confusing voters who don't know better. Democrats aren't going along, helping us overcome legislative incompetence, and we think that's wrong."
If our "time is very precious" and shouldn't be wasted, House Republicans could take some time to work on real legislation, and give up on the absurd notion that existing regulations are responsible for high unemployment.
Indeed, this bill is deeply ridiculous. A former Republican congressman, Sherwood Boehlert, recently said "it would be difficult to exaggerate the sweep and destructiveness of the House bill," noting that its restrictions would prevent the government from helping out the housing market, consumers, or the financial markets.
Is it really any wonder that Democrats aren't eager to help the GOP majority pass this nonsense?
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Virginia Foxx, in essence, the very spirit of comedy! Comity? Please..
Right, but the comedy is lost on her. "Comity" refers to legal reciprocity.
Foxx can't understand the irony because her mind cannot think outside the GOP obstructionist Zeitgeist.
Obstructive reciprocity is exactly what this is.
Every once in a while, out of the sick, toxic political environment the Republicans have created for us to live in, comes moments when it is simply hilarious to watch them simmer in their own hypocrisy and inability at self-introspection.
That poor, unsuspectingly cluelessly hilarious stooge is priceless.
Consider this: that woman got elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. American Exceptionalism is alive and well.
(sarcasm alert)
But...but...but mediocre people deserve representation too!!!
To bad all the Dems didn't just stand up and LAUGH at her as they walked off.
and Virginia, from me to you drop __— your phony beohner act.
LOL at the dummy's they call republican congress
It is sad when 'important legislation' is held up by petty politicking.
But did anyone think to double check the font size? Because that kind of thing really can not be overlooked.
Can't think of anything nice to say, so.............................................................................
I will say it for you: WHAT A DOLT!
"And I think in the spirit of comity, in the spirit that was established on this floor, this morning, we should move on, get to the work that the American people sent us here for, and understand as was quoted this morning by one of our colleagues -- our time is very precious. Don't waste it by playing gotcha games. Think about what we discussed earlier."
Talk about chutzpah! "Spirit of comity?" And since when have Republicans been interested in "doing the work that the American people sent us here for?" They've certainly done nothing to work cooperatively to solve problems. "Gotcha games?" If those were Olympic events, Republicans would win almost all the medals.
But then, what else can one expect from Virginia Foxx.
Shorter Foxx, "Suddenly the Democrats are the pansies we thought they were. I'm going to cry."
Seems to me that if a member is sponsoring a bill then that member has the responsibility to actually read it! So, yeah, the mistakes were made by a member.
When you outsource all of your bill writing to ALEC, I guess you should expect the odd typo here and there during transcription.
Would that this was the most offensive and ridiculous thing my dear, sweet, kind-spirited, fair-minded representative Ginny Foxx had ever said.
Virginia Foxx, of death panel lies, calling for "comity"? Horse laugh her out of the picture.
No wonder Redd Foxx divorced her!
Awesome! My laugh of the day.
The bill seems really ridiculous because it promotes unemployment. Corporate Mind: I shouldn't hire more people because my company could get more regulations, thus cutting in to my profits.
To quote Keith Olbermann:
I remember that story on the distraught Dem who pushed the wrong button on a vote and allowed it to go through... don't remember any mulligans.
Foxx should consult the Senate Republicans who are holding up all sorts of legislation and appointments. Then she can talk turkey with Dems in the House. Quid pro quo.
Time to outsource those jobs to Americans with American educations, eh?
Get to the work that the American people sent you there for????? Finally????
C-Span can add another channel: Comity Central.
Rep. Foxx will pretty surely win reelection, since the Democrats in the 5th district rejected a rather plausible candidate and accepted an unlikely one in the Primary.
Since Rep. Dreier is not running for reelection, she becomes the second Republican on the Rules Committee after Pete Sessions. He is recently divorced and attracts controversies of many types, as befits a Texas Republican.
I think we will be hearing lots more from both of them in the future.
Foxx can stuff it. She wasn't as concerned about working with democrats when she voted, along with her republican colleagues, against any bill which would have helped our economy to recover and for bills that would restrict a woman's right to make healthcare decisions about her own body. Cooperation is a two way street.