Three Provisions Violate Senate Rules
When Nancy Pelosi was the Speaker of the House under President Barack Obama more substantive legislation was passed than at any other time in modern history. TIME magazine in 2009 noted Speaker Pelosi passed “every item” on President Obama’s agenda, including “health care, energy, regulatory reform, education, pay equity.”
Fast forward to today.
The Republicans have not put on President Trump’s desk a single bill of substance, despite having a majority in both the House and the Senate.
Today, much to the consternation of Democrats, Speaker Paul Ryan’s House just passed a historic, decrepit, dangerous tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy bill that the Senate plans to pass in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
But because they are staggeringly incompetent, the House will have to vote on the bill again, because it violates procedural rules. And it was Democrats who made the observation.
The vote, by the way, was 227-203 with exactly zero House Democrats voting yes.
The bill will add $1.5 trillion to the debt, and cause a tax increase for 60 percent of Americans. The wealthiest Americans and corporations will receive a major tax cut.
“Several provisions in the GOP’s sweeping tax bill violate the Senate’s procedural rules and will likely need to be removed, according to Senate aides,” Politico reports. “The House is expected to re-vote on the legislation Wednesday, after the Senate votes Tuesday night.”
Back in June, The New Republic wrote, “The Democrats are once again in a situation where the party elite needs new blood. But if it’s time for fresh leadership, Democrats would do well to remember and celebrate Pelosi’s genuine achievements as one of the most substantive legislators in modern American politics. In fact, they should be so lucky as to find the next Nancy Pelosi.”
To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.
If you find NCRM valuable, would you please consider making a donation to support our independent journalism?
Â
Â