Associated Press
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.)
House Republicans expect to pass a three-month debt-ceiling extension next week, before moving on to the next fight. Even if we assume Democrats accept the GOP's retreat, which isn't a sure thing just yet, GOP leaders may once again run into trouble with their own caucus, leaving John Boehner and Eric Cantor dependent on Democratic votes for the third time in four weeks.
In an odd twist, it's not necessarily the case that those intransigent House Republicans want to default and trash the full faith and credit of the United States -- on the contrary, many want the debt ceiling to go up. The problem is they don't want to vote for it. The New York Times calls this "unofficial group" the "Vote No/Hope Yes Caucus."
These are the small but significant number of Republican representatives who, on the recent legislation to head off the broad tax increases and spending cuts mandated by the so-called fiscal cliff, voted no while privately hoping -- and at times even lobbying -- in favor of the bill's passage, given the potential harmful economic consequences otherwise.
Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma, part of the Republican whip team responsible for marshaling support for legislation, said the current makeup of House Republicans could be divided roughly into a third who voted in favor of the bill because they wanted it to pass, a third who voted against the bill because they wanted it to fail, and a third who voted against the bill but had their fingers crossed that it would pass and avert a fiscal and political calamity.
One lawmaker, Mr. Cole said, told him that while he did not want to vote in favor of the bill, he also did not want to amend it and send it back to the Senate, where it might die and leave House Republicans blamed for tax increases. "So I said, 'What you're really telling me is that you want it to pass, but you don't want to vote for it,' " recalled Mr. Cole, who voted yes.
Cole was referring to the vote on the fiscal agreement, but he might as well have been talking about debt-ceiling votes. Republicans don't want to be on the hook for crashing the economy on purpose, but they've turned debt-ceiling votes into something ugly and nefarious.
It's a reminder as to why the possible demise of the "Hastert Rule" matters so much to the process right now.
As we've been talking about this week, there's an informal, non-binding rule that the Speaker is only supposed to bring bills to the floor that most of his own caucus supports (measures that enjoy a "majority of the majority"). The idea is, Republicans shouldn't even consider bills if they're dependent on Democratic votes to pass; the real power belongs in the hands of the House GOP's far-right rank and file.
Boehner had to ignore the rule on the fiscal agreement two weeks ago, and then again this week to pass an aid package for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Don't be too surprised if it happens again next week on the debt ceiling -- assuming Nancy Pelosi is willing once more to help bail Boehner out of his jam.
But the larger point is, the emergence of the "Vote No/Hope Yes Caucus" make this unavoidable. If there's a significant chunk of House Republicans who want measures to pass without Republican votes, simple arithmetic tells us the GOP leadership will need to rely more and more on Democrats to get things done.
That means it's time to bury the "Hastert Rule" altogether. And if Boehner is prepared to proceed without any consideration of this so-called "rule," it opens up all kinds of new legislative opportunities, including on possible bills related to guns and immigration.
For what it's worth, even rank-and-file GOP members seem to agree the "Hastert Rule" has outlived its usefulness. Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) said yesterday, "I think that the majority of the majority Hastert rule comes out of a time when we had a Republican president. When you have a Democrat president that's a very hard thing to achieve sometimes -- and not necessarily important."
Republicans never added these caveats before, but conditions appears to be changing quickly.
Leave a Comment:
The House of Representatives is responsible for originating all legislation that determines how much money is spent by the executive branch (Article 1, Section 7, US Constitution).
That means that John Boehner is responsible for telling Barack Obama how much to spend, and Republicans are so mad about how much Barack Obama is spending that they don't want to pay the bill.
Schizophrenia (definition from National Library of Medicine - click here):
There is a fine line between an accidental lye once in a while and raving bat$hit crazy.
The election of an African American president drove the half crazy ones off the deep end.
Speaking of Guano loco...wasn't there some idiot recently who said Congress should consider "Defunding" the executive branch?
I don't think "Power of the Purse" means what they think it means...
Actually, Article 7 states that bills to raise revenue must start in the House. The Senate has the right to initiate spending bills, but may only amend tax bills that have passed the House. Senate Dems can pass a budget from scratch on the spending side, but can only count taxes from previous laws passed.
John Boehner is solely responsible for presidential spending.
The Senate won't pass any of John Boehner's budgets "en total" because John Boehner wants to lump social security with the national debt.
That was outlawed in 1939 as a form of insurance fraud.
Republicans have been bribed by the Koch Brothers to rob the social security trust fund so they can avoid paying taxes for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are the wealthiest, and therefore would pay the most, which is appropriate because they are the ones that got the jacka$$ elected that got us into those wars.
Harry Reid won't let John Boehner rob social security, which is intended to support poor people when they become too old to work or disabled.
John Boehner would be busy trying to outlaw guns if the average American knew what he was up to.
Sounds like a few Republicans are waking up from their comas. May it continue.
Republicans didn't wake up.
They finally realized everyone has started making fun of them.
Tonto no fool.
BTW.
The whole 2nd amendment thing was started by racist Hollywood producers during the early days of the movie industry.
The "Lone Ranger" is a key part of Republican mythology.
ESPECIALLY in Oklahoma.
Love the picture of Tom Cole.
There is racism under every rock I reckon, especially if you disagree with someone on the left.I love my family dearly and I dissent with them at times.
And I guess there is no racism by progressives, ever! and no racist thought has ever been pondered above the mason-dixon line. Are you a plumber? cause you sure can talk some @#$%& !
Why so mad?
Was it something I said?
Please let it be something I said.
I'm a retired rocket scientist. I used to work with things like this.
The US Navy was segregated until recently and I find prejudice to be profoundly disturbing.
Just because you attached them to the bottom of the planes, doen't make you a rocket scientist! hahaha I think you title is correct (Crack head )
These systems shoot down planes.
Just one of the reasons why I know how government spending works.
Boy oh boy, the Republican brand is turning into some sort of nambypamby group of sophomoric Constitution readers!
I'm getting tired of having to witness just how much Republican ignorance has commanded our political agenda these past 3+ years! -Kevo
Washington, (especially democrats) can manage a dollar about as well as Widespread Panic can manage a dime bag.
John Boehner is responsible for telling Barack Obama how much to spend.
The House of Representatives is responsible for originating all legislation that determines how much money is spent by the executive branch (Article 1, Section 7, US Constitution - click here).
Republicans are mad about how much they told Barack Obama to spend and now Republicans don't want to pay the bill that Republicans made.
Constitutional rights only apply to people that know what's in it.
Yes, We Have No Bananas, Songwriters: FRANK SILVER, IRVING CONN
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/louis_prima/yes_we_have_no_bananas.html
Suggested Dance Song?
Dear "Vote No/Hope Yes Caucus.",
We the PEOPLE have been "hoping" that you too would join the real world and actually work to help US instead of being obstructionists. WE too are disappointed, angry, and tired of your shyt. Instead of "voting no" and hoping for that rainbow, how about taking meaningful action for the good of the nation.
Signed,
No longer "hoping", working to remove you people from office.
This may be the moment when the Dems. vote "NO" with enough crazy Repubs. to have the bill not pass. How embarrassing for the Repubs. HAH!
Reality appears to be slipping in through the cracks (It does that.).
I await further developments.
3 months is ridiculous. I hope they go for it, so we can revisit this every three months until 2014...
Debt and ceiling, two words used together for what reason? The debt part is the concern.Debt that can't be repaid is a form of slavery.Slavery we didn't mandate or approve.We the people have to recompense it.Ceiling? that's a joke. Why even have one? To be raised over and over and over!! WASTE,FRAUD,ABUSE,KICKBACKS,SWEETHEART DEALS, AID TO BACKWARDS BANANA REPUBLICS AND BRIBES.That's how way too much of that money is spent.You damn well know too but you don't care.
‘If you see someone walk on the street with knife, call Police.
If you see someone walk on the street with assault weapon, call NRA…to save Police’s life.’
NRA so power = threaten American’s life.
The shooting victims should file the law suit against NRA.
Yeah, and sue the spoon makers for making people fat! Sometime you people are so out of touch what is really going on, that it amazes me! Go to the mirror and smack yourself awake!
In Colorado a version of the Hastert Rule was referred to as the binding caucus. It was outlawed as a part of a referred constitutional amendment (the GAVEL amendment) in 1988 much to the dismay of the Republicans.
This is just a TEST of the GOP debt ceiling emergency system! If this was a real emergency you would need to dig out your duck tape and plastic!
Republicans are hypocrites. On one hand they are complaining about the taking away of their constitutional right to have what ever type of gun they want and on the other hand they are taking away the constitutional rights of women and voters.
Oh you say, saving an unborn child is wrong?
And, you need an ID to buy beer, get a license, about anything except to VOTE? Give me a break and get real.
Anybody here actually want to cut the deficit? I do. It is a real emergency. The numbers do not add up and the middle class can either take a giant tax hike or the takers can start doing with less. It really is that simple. Do you really want the Chinese to own your childrens' future? Wake up, people!