Boehner Brushes Off Past GOP Moves To Rush Bills Through Congress: ‘It Was A Different Time’
Boehner Brushes Off Past GOP Moves To Rush Bills Through Congress: ‘It Was A Different Time’
Last night on Fox News, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) complained about the process of moving bills forward for a vote. “I’m going to introduce a resolution here in the House that would require all committees to post within 24 hours the actions taken by their committee,” he declared.
Host Greta Van Susteren piled on. “Why in the world don’t we have that?” After Boehner spent much of the segment calling on the Democratic majority to “let people read these bills,” Van Susteren turned the tables and asked Boehner what the standard practice was when the Republicans were in power:
VAN SUSTEREN: All right, when your party was in leadership in the House and there were issues about transparency, any recollection how you handled it? Did you guys resist it at all? I realize that different times, but did you resist it at all?
BOEHNER: Well, it was a different time. I can tell you when I was Majority Leader, at the time, in almost all cases, I insisted that members have at least 24 hours to read a bill before it came to the floor. But that was — it’s a different time. I’ve made a commitment, and as have my Republican members, that if we take the majority back, we will have a requirement that no bill will come to the floor that hasn’t been out and available to the public and to the members for at least three days.
Watch it:
Boehner may have “insisted” that members have at least 24 hours to read a bill before a vote when he was (briefly) Majority Leader, but that guidance wasn’t always followed. At 9:21 P.M. on Sept. 26, 2006, the House Rules Committee reported the Military Commissions Act to the House, which then was voted on and passed at 4:45 P.M. the next day. The Secure Fence Act of 2006 also had about a day after it was reported out of committee and before it was voted on in the House.
When asked if the GOP leadership waved rules requiring at least 72 hours for members to read bills before voting on them, former Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA) said, “Absolutely — it is among the most commonly waived rules the House has.”
Indeed, during the GOP’s House reign, Republican leaders rushed major pieces of legislation through without giving 24 hours for members to read over the bills, let alone 72, including the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit, President Bush’s second tax cut for the wealthy in 2003, and the USA Patriot Act of 2001.
In fact, presumably much to Boehner’s delight, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently pledged to put health care reform legislation, and any amendment, online “for at least 72 hours before the House votes.”
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VAN SUSTEREN: All right, when your party was in leadership in the House and there were issues about transparency, any recollection how you handled it? Did you guys resist it at all? I realize that different times, but did you resist it at all?
BOEHNER: Well, it was a different time.
Sure it was a different time. Back then, Republicans were the majority. Now the Democrats are the majority.
Different parties require different rules. Right, Congressman?
October 8th, 2009 at 4:52 pmWe will allow enough time to be sure it fits up your a** then we’ll proceed at good spped
October 8th, 2009 at 4:52 pmThe Boner plays golf with Jesus.
Jesus tells the Boner what God wants the repiggies to do.
Jesus loved it when George W. Bush was president, and He has told the Boner to obstruct any actions, no matter how well-intentioned, that have been proposed by the non-white non-Christian Muslim terrorist Nazi Commie liberal Darwinist gun-hating vegetarian holistic feminist gay-friendly fascist pinko President Obama.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:53 pmThe Republicans are grasping for straws as the try to undermine and stall all legislation. Dems need to roll over the Republicans just like they did when they had control. The Dems need to stop being so nice.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:54 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
if we take the majority back, we will have a requirement that no bill will come to the floor that hasn’t been out and available to the public and to the members for at least three days
Big ‘if’.
I call bullshit. This is another one of those quotes that will be denied ever being uttered, even though it’s documented and noted now.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:56 pmSure John. Promise away. Last time you were out of power Newt and the boys promised voluntary term limits after four terms. You lied then too.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:56 pmWell, it was a different time.
Thank god your time is over
October 8th, 2009 at 4:58 pmMr. Duke
October 8th, 2009 at 4:59 pmThere is not enough time between now and the end of all creation for Michelle Bachmann, Paul Broun, Louis Gohmert and the rest of the GOP freak squad to read and understand anything more complex than My Pet Goat.
Did Boner REALLY just say IOKIYAR? I think he did.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:00 pmTranslation from Boehner-speak to English: “It was a different time. We were in charge then, and it was important to get legislation passed before anybody had time to realize they were getting screwed. When we established that routine, it never occured to us that we’d ever be the minority party again. But now that we are, it’s not fair.”
I’m kind of surprised that Van Susteren, who normally has swollen lips from kissing GOP @ss, would challenge Boehner on this at all — even weakly. But I would have preferred to see Rachel handle it.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:00 pmOMG!! Greta certainly can pile on the leading questions…..talk about softball!!! Then again I wouldn;t have expected anything else from Fox News.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:01 pmMaybe they should leave the bill up for 20 years, that way today’s infants have a chance to really look it over first.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:02 pmThank you Crazy Shelly for your input. And for telling everyone you lack da reading comprension. Next the Repugs are going to demand that all bills presented to Congress need to be illustrated with no more than three short sentences per page.
And they be given crayons for casting their votes.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:02 pmPure obstructionism. Those that want health reform – over 78% of the American people — recognize this for what it is and want Congress to ignore the delay tactics.
They simply pretend that their double standard is in the best interests of he American people. Nothing could further from the truth.
Don’t Listen Nancy – do the right thing.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:04 pm*
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
yes, boner,
October 8th, 2009 at 5:07 pmit truly was a different time. one in which you’ll never see again in your lifetime…when the repukes were in the majority.
Three months?
Seriously, Michele?
Then how did you read all the pages in past bills?
October 8th, 2009 at 5:09 pmI believe all members of Congress should have the opportunity to read and understand bills before voting on them. Of course, with the pages and pages of legislation coming out of the various committees, nothing would ever get done if every Congressperson read every page of every bill himself/herself.
Which is why they all have trusted staff members to assist with this. It’s reasonable to give enough time for the member and his/her staff to go over legislation, regardless of which party is in charge.
However, the reason the Republicans are howling (besides their general desire to obstruct) is that they want their LOBBYISTS to have enough time to read everything. And that’s not necessary.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:09 pmAh, yes, boner, it was the best of times. All you had to do was tell the boys and girls, vote yes for everything put up by the R’s.
And now, the worst of times. Since your votes amount to a pitcher of warm spit you have to coach the idiots on what new piece of stupidity they should spout to keep America from noticing just how much spit is worth.
Apologies to Garner, that p should be and h.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:11 pmEven if we gave Michele three years and hired her a team of tutors to explain the big words to her, she’d still never vote for this bill.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:13 pmToday on the House floor, Rep. Michele Bachmann said three days isn’t enough time for her. “Three days to read the bill? Please! Three months would be a minimum,” she said.
If you weren’t on so many dam tv shows maybe you’d have more time to read the bills you were hired by your constituents to consider!
Or is it a comprehension issue perhaps?
October 8th, 2009 at 5:17 pmOh John, don’t be such a boner…
October 8th, 2009 at 5:17 pmToday on the House floor, Rep. Michele Bachmann said three days isn’t enough time for her. “Three days to read the bill? Please! Three months would be a minimum,” she said.
– - Maybe Michele can get Palin’s speed-writing ghostwriter to speed-read it to her.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:18 pmIsn’t Boner the one who based much of his objection to the “bailout” because, “nobody (presumably including himself) has read this bill”?
For the life of me, I can’t figure out why it’s O.K. to contest a bill one hasn’t read any more than it is to support one.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:20 pmMichele Bachmann- “Three days to read the bill? Please!
OK, OK, they can give her the copy with pictures and a box of crayons.
Boehner’s a dick.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:21 pmAnd I’m overjoyed to see Crazy Shelly admit that she can’t read at a normal adult level. Perhaps she just needs her hubby and Pastor to tell her what to think about it?
October 8th, 2009 at 5:22 pmWhat a meeting of the crazies!
Greta Van Susteren is a Scientologist.
Xenu time, everyone…
Does the Boner think that Xenu is Jesus’ cousin?
Are the Scientologists involved in Mormon planet purchases for eternity?
Inquiring minds want to know!
October 8th, 2009 at 5:23 pmSo Boehner longs for the “good old days”. Too bad he didn’t use them more effectively because then voters may not have been so repulsed and turned the GOP out of power. (Strike that, I’m glad they are out of power). As for Bachmann, she still wouldn’t understand the bill after 3 months so the extra time would serve no good purpose.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:25 pmGO HERE to tell Rep. Tan Man what you think:
http://johnboehner.house.gov/
October 8th, 2009 at 5:25 pmMichele needs more time so Mark Levin can translate it for her.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:28 pmNo Michele needs more time, her head is still spinning from bildo the dildo’s flattery…
October 8th, 2009 at 5:32 pmThe GOP need absolutely NO TIME to read or think about any Obama/Democratic policy–their answer will be “No.” In fact, the longer Bachmann, Boehner and the Right wait, the more popular Obama and his policies become.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:33 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Oh look, da duke learned a new word.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:42 pmThree months is not too much to ask.
Especially when you consider that she first has to learn how to read.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:47 pmUnlike Crazy Shelly, I’ve actually poured over the summaries of three of the bills under consideration. She could spend three years reading them and still wouldn’t find “government takeover of health care” or “Medicare for everyone” in any of the bills.
Perhaps she just needs enough time for her poor addled mind to create the fantasy scenario she’s so afraid of?
October 8th, 2009 at 6:01 pmIt was a different time, a wonderful time. Today, I’m living in fear of this government plot to eradicate white people through the spread of Aids, masked as “h1n1 vaccination.” I won’t be any part of it. I can procreate and start over.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:04 pmThe Republicans not only rushed bills through, they also inserted amendments into bills at the last moment without anyone even knowing they were there.
The only reason it is a “different time” is because Republicans no longer rule.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:13 pmMr.Duke says:
Above the Clouds says:
The GOP need absolutely NO TIME to read or think about any Obama/Democratic policy–their answer will be “No.” In fact, the longer Bachmann, Boehner and the Right wait, the more popular Obama and his policies become.
dubious
You are aware of the fact that only 18% of Americans still call themselves Republicans, aren’t you? And you are also aware that people in polls rate Democratic legislators twice as high as Republican legislators. So, there’s nothing “dubious” about what above the clouds said. You just don’t like facts.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:17 pmAll of these statements about needing time to read bills are BS. Every congressman has aides to help. In fact, each congressman gets most of their info about bills through their party leadership. No person in Congress reads every single bill. These bills are on line on the network for Congress so that people in Congress are updated as soon as amendments and proposals are made. The truth is that the lobbyists want a chance to review and get out PR if they do not like a bill.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:19 pm“Three days to read the bill? Please! Three months would be a minimum…”
Bachmann will stall till Judgment Day.
St. Peter at the gate:
“But you didn’t accomplish anything in your life!”
Bachmann:
October 8th, 2009 at 6:20 pm“But, but, I was going to, but I’ve waiting for, well, you know, today!”
“Today on the House floor, Rep. Michele Bachmann said three days isn’t enough time for her. “Three days to read the bill? Please! Three months would be a minimum,” she said.”
So you need three days to use all those colors in the big Crayola box?
October 8th, 2009 at 6:24 pmMr.Duke says:
(Above the Clouds says:
“The GOP need absolutely NO TIME to read or think about any Obama/Democratic policy–their answer will be “No.” In fact, the longer Bachmann, Boehner and the Right wait, the more popular Obama and his policies become.”)
dubious
Yes, that’s exactly who the GOP reminds of.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:27 pmEvery day.
Never again will we be fooled by the puppeteers.
Three months makes sense. First month for the insurance lobbyists to go through the bill, then the second month for the lobbyists to discuss with their bosses in the insurance industry and third month for the lobbyists to get back to THEIR senators and tell them what modifications are needed. See, Michelle is not that stupid as some people make of her.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:34 pmMr Duke tells us what he thinks of Mr King. I think Mr Duke is a worthless very stupid pile of dogshit
October 8th, 2009 at 6:50 pmIt was a different time; a time of Bush crime; a time of stolen Presidential Elections, you know… It was a time of Bush war and a time of monkey-business on nine-nine, nine-ten and oops, nine-eleven… It was a different time, when the GOP Tyrants ruled with an iron fist, and any whispers of dissent were considered treasonous by Bush and the Republicans. It was a different time…
October 8th, 2009 at 7:02 pmEugene, you’re rattling my trolls too much. The supply room has but only so many diapers on hand, ok? Clear?
October 8th, 2009 at 7:10 pm“Three days to read the bill? Please! Three months would be a minimum,” she said.
That’s because it takes longer when you have to sound out the words.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:19 pmThree months? What a slacker. Give me a break.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:27 pmToday on the House floor, Rep. Michele Bachmann said three days isn’t enough time for her. “Three days to read the bill? Please! Three months would be a minimum,” she said.
Three months?!? I guess the old adage is true: since pro is the opposite of con, then congress is the opposite of progress.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:39 pmIf Bachman would stop flapping her lips all the time trying to bring attention to herself, she might find time to read the bills.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:42 pmBOEHNER = BONER
October 8th, 2009 at 8:40 pmOf course it was a different time – the GOP was calling the shots back then.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:21 pmOf course, I think it’s safe to assume that Crazy Shelly and Boner will follow Jimmy Inhofe’s example and simply vote against anything proposed by a Democrat without bothering to read it.
October 8th, 2009 at 10:35 pmNobody is going to listen to a serial tanner.
October 8th, 2009 at 10:39 pmToday on the House floor, Rep. Michele Bachmann said three days isn’t enough time for her. “Three days to read the bill? Please! Three months would be a minimum,” she said
I suggest she take a speed reading class or find a new job where reading is not a requirement.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:12 pmHow this woman was elected is beyond me. I am surprised she can read.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:15 pmFrom the post update;
“Today on the House floor, Rep. Michele Bachmann said three days isn’t enough time for her. “Three days to read the bill? Please! Three months would be a minimum,” she said.”
WTF? Maybe three months to get scheduled with someone who can read it for her. Why the hell is this death ditz getting column space?
October 9th, 2009 at 12:58 amWould Obamabots prefer congressmen who flat out REFUSE to read any bill such as Waxman? Or the fact Waxman stated even if he did read it he couldn’t figure out what he read without at least 2 lawyers interpreting what he is reading for him !
October 9th, 2009 at 1:18 amAt least she pronounced “magnanimous” correctly
October 9th, 2009 at 1:22 amDoes it surprise anyone that MB needs three months to read a bill? Actually, I’m surprised she can read, because it does involve some thinking.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:46 amRep. Michele Bachmann said three days isn’t enough time for her. “Three days to read the bill? Please! Three months would be a minimum,” she said.
Nuevo rancher bragging about the size of hjis spread: “Takes me all day to drive from one side to the ranch to the other.”
Old time rancher: “Yep, I once had a piece of crap truck like yours.”
October 9th, 2009 at 11:25 amMichele Bachmann can’t read. this must be a joke.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:57 pmM Bachmann’s claim to need 3 months to read a bill…really? What font size (and in case she doesn’t know the meaning of font – BIG PRINT) would she like it in.
I have obviously been under the wrong impression that these legislators were sent to DC to actually WORK…like reading bills? If you read the actual legislation it is 3 days (but you only count Monday thru Friday…as they surely don’t work on weekends – that time is 100% reserved for campaign fund raising – unlike M-F when it only encompasses 25-50% of their time).
Maybe I am the only one of the wonks who did read all of the Levin Report on torture, all of the torture memos including Yoo’s rationale to break with Geneva convention, the Price Health Care Bill, HR3200, but I seriously doubt that! So now we hear from a legislator who presumably hasn’t found the time to completely read HR3200, as it was only put on-line in mid-July. Gee, I wonder if she has read the “defund Acorn” bill (after all, it is short…and she still needs 3 months…how did she ever get through college?
Her incompetence astounds me and I find it hard to believe that anyone can actually what she says…and be re-elected. I am truly dumbfounded!
October 9th, 2009 at 6:15 pmThank you for your sharing.!
October 14th, 2009 at 9:29 amCongress has highly paid aides, usually lawyers, who read each bill from beginning to end and give their boss a precis of the high points. yüz germe ameliyatlari
October 15th, 2009 at 4:55 am