Earmark-Loving Conservatives Threaten To Shut Down Congress
Earmark-Loving Conservatives Threaten To Shut Down Congress
For the second day in a row, the House of Representatives was “held hostage” today by conservative leaders threatening to block vital homeland security and domestic spending bills because they disagree with the new process for handling earmarks.
Led by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), this is the same crew that oversaw that “extraordinarily irresponsible explosion of congressional earmarking that began shortly after the Republicans gained control of the Congress in 1995 and lasted until the voters tossed them out this past November.” They now claim to be champions of good government.
Here are the facts: on its first day, the 110th Congress passed the strictest rules governing earmarks ever. The new Congress did not place a single earmark on any of the nine FY2007 spending bills they completed in January, and pledged to cut the number of earmarks in the FY2008 spending bills to half the number that the previous Congress has enacted in FY2006.
Now, the process for the FY2008 spending bills has been delayed — in part because of the protracted Iraq debate, in part because the new Congress had to pass spending bills that the last Congress failed to do, and in part because appropriations committee staffers had to locate tens of thousands of documents for investigators in the Duke Cunningham case. As a result, appropriations chairman David Obey (D-WI) has had to modify the earmark process, but it is still a “far more open and democratic process than we have ever had before.”
[Earmarks] will be made public well in advance — probably more than a month — of the convening of a conference committee. Any earmark found to be egregious during that period can be targeted in the motion to instruct conferees, a motion controlled by the minority party. In addition, the new reforms adopted in January insure that any earmark may be fully debated in conference committee and any member of the conference can move to strike any proposed earmark.
The new-found conservative outrage over earmarks is a sham. Desperate to stop spending bills that they can’t defeat in a straight vote, they are using earmarks as an excuse to throw a wrench into the system.
For a fuller explanation, read this new piece out by American Progress senior fellow Scott Lilly, or watch Obey fight back against his critics last night on the House floor:
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48 Responses to “Earmark-Loving Conservatives Threaten To Shut Down Congress”
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You're a foul one, Mr. Boehner............
June 13th, 2007 at 9:20 pmCongress should have been shut down BEFORE they approved the recent spending bill for Iraq.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:20 pmCivil war looking better every single day.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:24 pmThey don't know how to do it any differently. When in power; corrupt, steal, cheat, and lie. When out of power; confuse, obstruct, attack, and lie.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:25 pmThis is strange, because the Democrats claimed they could not shut down the government as a minority party, but the GOPers are now doing it as a minority party, so the Democrats have lied to us or are certified dorks?!
June 13th, 2007 at 9:25 pmWhat bunch of jokers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
Shenanigans!!!!
Shenanigans!!!1
I call Shenanigans!!11
June 13th, 2007 at 9:26 pmYeah, it makes you wonder why the Dems didn't use these tricks when we were in the minority. I think we're getting a lesson in how a minority party should work.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:28 pmIs that Rep. Obey in the pic at top?
June 13th, 2007 at 9:28 pmComment by Jay Randal — June 13, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
It sure is!
You haven't seen the clip?
June 13th, 2007 at 9:30 pmCool let them go ahead & shut down the congress.Who you think comes out on the front-end of that move.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:31 pmThe same folks who claim that they are the best at securing us wants to forego our protection because they can't get their earmarks.
The Republicans may be hypocritical about this but that doesn't excuse the way the Democrats are acting over this.
We have been living under Republican malfeasance and corruption for the past 12 years so the Democrats need to be transparent in what they are doing. The American people deserve to know what these earmarks are.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:31 pmRepublicans... liars and theives... everyone one of them. This proves that Republicans should never, ever be in a position of power.
Signed: Iraq veterans returning in COFFINS DRAPED WITH FLAGS
June 13th, 2007 at 9:32 pmWell we find out that the Democrats could have shut down the Congress for the past 4 to 6 years, but were too chicken to do it, but the GOPers are now doing it and they are 100% slime.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:40 pmWow, I like Rep. Obey. He stated his case very well and to the point. He also shows how it would have been difficult, at best for Dems to shut down the Congress when they were in the minority.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:44 pmObey, your outrage will soon subside and you and the rest of the Dems will be kissing the unethical crooks asses.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:44 pmObey! Obey! Obey! Obey!
Hmm, that doesn't look as good typed out as it sounded in my head...
June 13th, 2007 at 9:45 pmThey can shut it don't for all I care.
Would anybody even notice?
It's not like they ever accomplish anything anyway.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:46 pmOfficer Obey ?
June 13th, 2007 at 9:46 pmthreaten away!
what can happen?
this story needs legs, lots of coverage...
that is, if the dems are going to push back and
call FOUL, loudly and forcefully...
and they damn well better...
June 13th, 2007 at 9:55 pm.
...so the Democrats have lied to us or are certified dorks?!
Comment by Jay Randal — June 13, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
Exactly my question, when the Republicans are in power they run roughshod over everything in their path, you don't even HEAR the democrats much less see them doing anything.
When the Democrats get in power, they're impotent. The Republicans pulls this kind of 'Boehner', and the dems run and hide.
It's disgusting.
June 13th, 2007 at 9:58 pmBoth parties are so pathetic, it makes the looming '08 elections seem like a HUGE waste of time. Maybe we can cancel them due to lack of interest and donate the $350 million or so that would be spent to the refugees in Darfur or to the millions of displaced Iraqis or maybe to the families of the 3500 killed in Iraq or to the 20,000+ wounded.
I have lost all faith in BOTH parties and they will have to work very hard to get my confidence back
June 13th, 2007 at 10:01 pmI grew up on a farm raising sheep, bovines, and pigs. I know for a fact that pigs squeel the loudest when they aren't fed. The Republic Party jihadists in the House are squealing just as would any pig not getting its trough filled.
June 13th, 2007 at 10:03 pmwe need another 300 Obey's in the House and another 70 in the Senate - he is a man of principle who knows how to throw Republican hypocritical bullshit back in their faces.
June 13th, 2007 at 10:08 pmObey! Obey! Obey! Obey!
Hmm, that doesn’t look as good typed out as it sounded in my head…
Comment by joe
It sounds best, and most freaked out, when the Daleks say it. :)
June 13th, 2007 at 10:10 pmThou shalt obey Obey
Reckonings 1:23
June 13th, 2007 at 10:12 pmWhat silliness! The Republicans didn't do anything when they were in the majority, and now they want to shut down Congress? They are being paid to do the work of the people yet the Republicans don't want to do the work. Oh that's right. The Republicans are used to Bush making all their decisions for them. They don't know how to work. well duh!
June 13th, 2007 at 10:40 pmWas Boehner crying?
June 13th, 2007 at 10:44 pmNeocons yell, bitch and cry if they can not continue the corruption.
Thank you Obey.
June 13th, 2007 at 10:45 pmWas Boehner crying?
Comment by Jane E. Schneider
No, but he did wet his pants.
June 13th, 2007 at 10:50 pmNo, but he did wet his pants.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — June 13, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
Yeah, but he was aiming for Obey's yapper!!!!
June 13th, 2007 at 11:00 pmShut down the Congress. Let the CIVAL WAR continue in Irag. Keep the gas prices high. Let terrorism flow, this is the Bushies way.
Profit, oil, corporate, media, oil, profit, corporate, media, dow jones.
June 13th, 2007 at 11:08 pmDesperate to stop spending bills that they can’t defeat in a straight vote, they are using earmarks as an excuse to throw a wrench into the system.
Sounds as much like garbage as the Fillibuster plan.
Fire them all!!
June 13th, 2007 at 11:11 pm...told ya...
...Conservatives are TRAITORS...
...they WANT to destroy our government...
June 13th, 2007 at 11:18 pmYeah, but he was aiming for Obey’s yapper!!!!
Comment by Mr. President
That's what happens when you can't get it beyond the zipper.....
June 13th, 2007 at 11:20 pm#33 - …Conservatives are TRAITORS…
…they WANT to destroy our government…
Comment by big papa
You are just now figuring this out???
They have been systematically doing this since Reygunz was in the Big Chair. Dubya is just finishing the job.
June 13th, 2007 at 11:21 pmThey have been systematically doing this since Reygunz was in the Big Chair. Dubya is just finishing the job.
Comment by upside00
But instead of drowning government in a bathtub, they're drowning the American people in that tub.
June 13th, 2007 at 11:22 pmBut instead of drowning government in a bathtub, they’re drowning the American people in that tub.
Comment by Zooey
You'd think the least they could do then would be to give us a rubber ducky.
June 13th, 2007 at 11:43 pmYou’d think the least they could do then would be to give us a rubber ducky.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
Kinky!
June 13th, 2007 at 11:58 pmYou’d think the least they could do then would be to give us a rubber ducky.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
Hey, they're giving us the goose, for sure. Don't get greedy.
June 14th, 2007 at 12:13 amComment by Zooey — June 13, 2007 @ 11:58 pm
Let me assure you, there is NO rubber ducky in our house! Well, there IS a rubber Easter chick, but it belongs to the cats. :-D
June 14th, 2007 at 12:33 amIf you really want to read some outrageous fantasies about how the Dems are handling the earmark problem go to the WSJ editorials 6/13/07. It has to be one of the most pathetic,drooling pieces of crap ever written by the WSJ editorial board and that is a low mark! The conservatives are just in another world. They slam Obey and call him the "House spender in chief". Who do they think they're kidding besides the 28 per cent of Dumbya's finest brain dead supporters?
June 14th, 2007 at 1:22 am#41 Comment by Dimitri — June 14, 2007 @ 1:22 am
I sometimes wonder if the WSJ is a moonie paper for the more mainstream uptight conservatives. They often equal the Washington Times with their outrageous "opinions."
June 14th, 2007 at 1:37 amComment by JPV — June 11, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
HEY GUYS, CAN WE MAKE A PACT, WITH EACH OTHER, TO COMPLETELY IGNORE THE TROLLS FROM NOW ON?
Comment by Buck Fush — June 11, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
"IGNORE THE TROLLS CLUB."
Good idea, guys!!
Why not take this list you started and expand it to include the rest not listed yet, and also as Trolls change their "handle." Then automatically (cut & paste) post it on every thread on TP about, say, every 25 posts. All of us anti troll folks can post it if we see it hasn't been posted in a while. Especially on troll heavy threads. "Members" can add their names as they wish forswearing communication with the trolls. Repetition is the name of the game! (Put the word "Reminder" on top in bold)
What do you think folks? Shall we band together formally? If I don't hear from anyone I will begin to post it anyway.
IGNORE THE TROLLS CLUB
Members:
Buck Fush, JPV, Merlin
Reminder
Don’t Read A Trolls Post

Don’t Respond To A Trolls Post
IGNORE THE TROLLS - Debate good, Trolls bad
Here are the trolls currently posting on TP.
m12, Patrick1, Jake, Valiant Venus, Pres. Clinton, MAF54, Mr. President,
June 14th, 2007 at 2:28 amMerlin
June 14th, 2007 at 6:37 amYou forgot michael and flaco.
Boehner is a disgrace.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:35 amEverybody here knows that putting last second spending into a bill to avoid debate is wrong. Why are you defending it? Because the Repubicans did it when they were in power? Is that really your standard? You know it's wrong so demand that they stop. Is the high ground not an option here?
While I'm asking questions, why have the Democrats place a homeless man in charge of the oppropriations committee?
June 14th, 2007 at 11:27 amRep. Obey, you gotta love that Cheese Head. I know we love him here in Wisconsin.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:43 amCivil war looking better every single day.
Comment by Vance
Civil war, hell. I say Vive Le Revolution!
Let them eat cake, indeed!
June 14th, 2007 at 11:48 am