The Cost To Our Economy From Republican Obstruction and Sabotage

http://ourfuture.org/20140923/the-cost-to-our-economy-from-republican-obstruction-and-sabotage

"The Republican political strategy has been to obstruct efforts to help the economy for everyone but the wealthiest few, and then campaign on complaints that the economy isn’t helping anyone but the wealthiest few. It’s working.

In President Obama’s July 12 weekly address he said, “So far this year, Republicans in Congress have blocked every serious idea to strengthen the middle class.” He could have said, “Since 2009.” Since the 2009 “stimulus,” Republicans have obstructed pretty much every effort to help the economy. In the Senate they have filibustered hundreds of bills, and since the “stimulus” they have managed to keep anything from passing that might help the economy.

In the House, Republicans have refused to allow votes on anything that seriously would help the economy, instead passing only tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, spending cuts on essential things like maintaining our infrastructure and scientific research, and cutting regulations that protect people and the environment from being harmed by corporations seeking profit.

Republicans have blocked every effort since the stimulus to maintain infrastructure, hire teachers, raise the minimum wage, give equal pay for women, stop special tax breaks for millionaires corporations (especially oil companies), stop tax breaks for sending jobs out of the country, provide student loan relief, help the long-term unemployed, and more. Instead they insist on even more tax breaks for oil companies and billionaires, on cutting environmental protections, deregulating oil companies, and so on...

[...]

Obstruction Using Senate Filibusters

How many bills have been filibustered by Senate Republicans since President Obama took office? Bloomberg’s Jonathan Bernstein, in “All Filibusters, All the Time,” writes, “The correct count of how many bills have been filibustered during Obama’s presidency is: approximately all of them.”...

[...]


Obstruction And Economic Sabotage In The House

In the House Republican leadership has been following what is called the “Hastert Rule” to obstruct bills that would win with a majority vote. This is not a real “rule”; it is a partisan method of limiting what Democrats and moderate Republicans can accomplish. Republican leadership will not bring a bill up for a vote unless a majority of Republicans are for it. In other words, even if a bill would pass with most Democrats and some Republicans voting in favor, it can’t even get a vote unless it fits with Republican doctrine. (Actually that would be Republican funder doctrine, which is basically oil companies, Wall Street and a few ultra-billionaires.)...

[...]


So instead of looking at what has been blocked in the House, which would be literally everything Democrats and up to 49 percent of Republicans think would help the economy, we should look at what has passed. What has passed is a record of economic sabotage. Republicans claim there are more 300 bills passed by the House that are held up in the Senate. (Note that The Washington Post took a look at this and found that “In 11 of the past 19 Congresses – more than half – more than 300 bills were waiting for Senate action by the time the Congress completed its work.”)

Of particular note among the passed bills is the Republican “Path to Prosperity Budget” (a.k.a. the “Ryan budget”). It is described as “Cuts spending & implements pro-growth reforms that boost job creation.” It dramatically cuts taxes on the rich. It privatizes Medicare. It cuts spending on infrastructure, health care for the poor, education, research, public-safety, and low-income programs. It turns Medicaid, food stamps, and other poverty programs into state block grants.

Tax cuts aren’t going to fund schools or repair roads and bridges. And lo and behold, this Republican budget that passed the House cuts taxes and cuts funding for even maintaining – never mind modernizing – our vital infrastructure needs. This is a budget of economic sabotage.

Other Republican House “jobs” bills, listed at Speaker Boehner’s “jobs” page include:

Repeal ObamaCare

Working Families Flexibility Act – Eliminates overtime pay

Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act

Approve Keystone pipeline, to build a pipeline across the country so Canadian oil can be soil to China, easing an oil glut here and bringing prices back up.

More offshore oil drilling

Student Success Act – Promotes charter schools, cuts federal programs and support for schools

Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act – blocks regulations on coal ash

Energy Consumers Relief Act – block government regulation of oil companies and carbon pollution

Stop Government Abuse Act – “Provides small business owners with tools to protect against government harassment.”

Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act – “Stops the IRS from implementing the president’s health care law”

Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act – “Requires congressional approval of any new regulation with an economic cost of at least $100 million”

National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act – Facilitates the development of strategic and critical minerals used to support manufacturing jobs. (Note Senate Republicans filibustered this.)

Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act – Prevents regulations on fracking

Responsible And Professionally Invigorating Development Act – Expedites the approval for new energy projects

Electricity Security & Affordability Act – Protects coal-fired plants from regulation

Preventing Government Waste & Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America Act – prevents coal regulations

Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act

North American Energy Infrastructure Act – promotes cross-border pipelines.
The Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act – Expedites the approval of liquefied natural gas export applications

Lowering Gas Prices to Fuel an America That Works Act – expanding production of oil and gas

Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act – Permanently extends a ban on Internet access taxes

OK, got that? Their “jobs” bills include things like cutting government support for schools, stopping regulations on coal ash, requiring people receiving federal assistance to work, and drill-baby-drill. Oh, the list even includes bills that Republicans filibustered in the Senate..."

CAF 501 (c)(4)

The "strategic focus" of Campaign for America's Future and its sister organization, Institute for America's Future, is what they refer to as "kitchen table issues" such as "good jobs, health care, nurturing and educating children, and retirement security" and to form a majority in order to implement progressive reform.

"A. Spearheading the development of a compelling progressive economic agenda and message, one that crystallizes what progressives stand for, articulating the philosophy and values underlying these policies and developing fresh arguments for them in ways that will resonate with the majority of average Americans.

B. Convening and educating progressive leaders, organizations, opinion-makers, and activists on how to argue this case, helping to develop leaders who echo the arguments powerfully and drive them into the public debate.

C. Incubating national educational campaigns around strategic initiatives or defining issues that can build reform, while boldly framing the new possibilities."

Th Dude wrote:CAF 501 (c)(4)

The "strategic focus" of Campaign for America's Future and its sister organization, Institute for America's Future, is what they refer to as "kitchen table issues" such as "good jobs, health care, nurturing and educating children, and retirement security" and to form a majority in order to implement progressive reform.

"A. Spearheading the development of a compelling progressive economic agenda and message, one that crystallizes what progressives stand for, articulating the philosophy and values underlying these policies and developing fresh arguments for them in ways that will resonate with the majority of average Americans.

B. Convening and educating progressive leaders, organizations, opinion-makers, and activists on how to argue this case, helping to develop leaders who echo the arguments powerfully and drive them into the public debate.

C. Incubating national educational campaigns around strategic initiatives or defining issues that can build reform, while boldly framing the new possibilities."

So?

ok, and the dems are responsible for the terrible economy that led to the crash......... blame congress LOL

matter of a fact, for more than the last 50 years, dems have had control of the house and senate way more than republicans.

The real truth.

The gains in seats in the mid-term election resulted in the Republicans gaining control of both the House and the Senate in January 1995. Republicans had not held the majority in the House for forty years, since the 83rd Congress (elected in 1952).

Large Republican gains were made in state houses as well when the GOP picked up twelve gubernatorial seats and 472 legislative seats. In so doing, it took control of 20 state legislatures from the Democrats. Prior to this, Republicans had not held the majority of governorships since 1972. In addition, this was the first time in 50 years that the GOP controlled a majority of state legislatures.

Chrissy* wrote:ok, and the dems are responsible for the terrible economy that led to the crash......... blame congress LOL

matter of a fact, for more than the last 50 years, dems have had control of the house and senate way more than republicans.

Well that settles that . . . . thanks Chrissy, I've been over thinking that for years!

knothead wrote:

Chrissy* wrote:ok, and the dems are responsible for the terrible economy that led to the crash......... blame congress LOL

matter of a fact, for more than the last 50 years, dems have had control of the house and senate way more than republicans.

Well that settles that . . . . thanks Chrissy, I've been over thinking that for years!

its true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Presidents_and_control_of_Congress

You better recheck them ..ahem..facts.

Chrissy is right. Up until 95 the Dems controlled congress over 44 years. Then the Gop got the HOR for a bit and only controlled all of Congress just a spit in the bucket compared to the Dems. Out most destructive wars have been when Dems controlled Comgress and the WH. With a filibuster proof Senate now, it moots the GOps power in the house.

Vikingwoman wrote:The real truth.

The gains in seats in the mid-term election resulted in the Republicans gaining control of both the House and the Senate in January 1995. Republicans had not held the majority in the House for forty years, since the 83rd Congress (elected in 1952).

Large Republican gains were made in state houses as well when the GOP picked up twelve gubernatorial seats and 472 legislative seats. In so doing, it took control of 20 state legislatures from the Democrats. Prior to this, Republicans had not held the majority of governorships since 1972. In addition, this was the first time in 50 years that the GOP controlled a majority of state legislatures.

Having a comprehension problem?

Let me repeat this.

Democrats have had majority of the house and senate more often than republican over the past 50 years.

Are you trying to deny this fact?

We're not talking about the last 50 years. We're talking about the shenanigans in both House and Senate by the GOP since President Obama took the oath of office. This is from 2012, but certainly the situation hasn't improved.

14 reasons why this is the worst Congress ever

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/07/13/13-reasons-why-this-is-the-worst-congress-ever/

"This week, the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. On its own, such a vote would be unremarkable. Republicans control the House, they oppose President Obama’s health reform law, and so they voted to get rid of it.

But here’s the punchline: This was the 33rd time they voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Holding that vote once makes sense. Republicans had promised that much during the 2010 campaign. But 33 times? If doing the same thing twice and expecting a different result makes you insane, what does doing the same thing 33 times and expecting a different result make you?

Well, it makes you the 112th Congress.

Hating on Congress is a beloved American tradition. Hence Mark Twain's old joke, “Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” But the 112th Congress is no ordinary congress. It’s a very bad, no good, terrible Congress. It is, in fact, one of the very worst congresses we have ever had. Here, I’ll prove it:..."

(excerpt: They're not passing laws)







***********

However, THE ATLANTIC argues that the 107th Congress was the worst:



"After calculating the odds of divided government come 2013, Gregory Koger seems it more likely than not, and laments. "The 112th Congress has been abysmal. The Worst. Congress. Ever." he writes. "During a time when the U.S. has faced immense challenges, the Congress has been essentially paralyzed on major policy problems. Someone ought to pay a retrospective price for the failure."

He isn't alone. Norman Ornstein called its predecessor the worst ever.

"Yes, the 111th Congress, during the first two years of the Obama presidency, produced an impressive spate of major legislative accomplishments, from a stimulus package to a sweeping health-care reform bill to major financial regulatory reform," he wrote. "But all were passed after contentious, drawn-out, partisan battles that left most Americans less than happy with the outcomes."

Isn't that an unusual? He agrees with all the major legislation and still thinks they're the worst!

These "worst ever" arguments that gloss over decades of pre-modern history are always silly. But one needn't even crack open the history books to find a Congress worse than the one we've got now. And guess what? That recent Congress was a relative model of fast action and unity.

How did that work out? You be the judge.

The 107th Congress met for two years starting January 3, 2001. The Senate was evenly split until Jim Jeffords left the GOP, declared himself an independent, and began to caucus with Democrats.

In October 2001, with just one senator dissenting, that Congress passed the PATRIOT Act, the most alarming infringement on civil liberties in a generation and a precursor to all War on Terrorism abuses to come. In a bipartisan bill that January, legislators approved No Child Left Behind, a well-intentioned but flawed education-reform bill that forced an ineffective test-taking regime on the states and has not lived up to its name. Another bipartisan bill, the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance legislation, didn't remedy the problems it was meant to address before or after parts of it were found by the Supreme Court to violate the Constitution.

But no failure was as consequential as the 2002 authorization for military force against Iraq. What a historic debacle. That same Congress created the Department of Homeland Security, so their legacy of awfulness may well continue in perpetuity. It's all worth remembering next time someone tells you that the present Congress is the worst ever because they won't get anything done. For a couple years after President Bush took over, Congress agreed enough to push through all sorts of major policies with bipartisan support. They just turned out to be follies.

Sometimes bipartisan agreement is far more catastrophic than gridlock.

***************

FT,

It's only shenanigans when your party can't shove things down folks throats like Obamacare.

FT, you only blame congress when its the other side, when your congress is in majority, you blame the president.

Its obvious that with the dems being the majority in the house and senate the last 50 of how socialized w have become.

I urge conservatives to take the battle to the more local seats of government.

Start moving to areas that are strong holds of liberals. Oh shit, maybe don't do that, you could get killed.

Please folks ... dems and republicans ... stop the whining and start dealing with the real problem! There is no difference between republicans and democrats. Both are fully owned by the corporate state.

Don't blame the republicans for Iraq. Blame Boeing and GE, etc.

Day after day, it's Chrissy and Herr Markle and Pacedog vs. the human beings in this forum; choked in the un-winnable war about whose to blame for the destruction of America -- Bush or Obama? Reagan or Carter? Johnson or Nixon?

You want to fix America? Stop playing THEIR game!

Fuck America Inc!!!

Wordslinger wrote:Please folks ... dems and republicans ... stop the whining and start dealing with the real problem!  There is no difference between republicans and democrats. Both are fully owned by the corporate state.

Don't blame the republicans for Iraq.  Blame Boeing and GE, etc.

Day after day, it's Chrissy and Herr Markle and Pacedog vs. the human beings in this forum; choked in the un-winnable war about whose to blame for the destruction of America -- Bush or Obama?  Reagan or Carter?  Johnson or Nixon?

You want to fix America?  Stop playing THEIR game!

Fuck America Inc!!!

Look here. Over the years I have learned a little. I'm not near as party dedicated as most on this forum. With that said, the left on here is extremely dominated by blind sided politics and you make no mention of that, so again your preference shows.