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We saw something in the House today that provides more evidence that the congressional GOP has some serious problems. The final version of a bill funding the departments of Labor and HHS went down to a completely unexpected defeat on the House floor due to the defections of 22 Republicans and a solid wall of Democratic opposition. It was the first time in a decade that it has happened, and it indicates a GOP majority that is adrift.
Normally, leaders would have some idea where the votes were and weren't on a routine piece of business like this. But somehow this time they did not, and subsequently got blindsided by an unusual coalition of conservatives and moderates. That does not reflect well on the man running the floor in the absence of Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.
Meanwhile, the House is in recess once more late this afternoon as leaders struggle to find the votes necessary to pass its budget cutting package. The measure would trim funds from entitlement programs like Medicaid and food stamps, as well as raise revenues in other areas. The ultimate aim is to pay for Katrina relief, but moderates have balked at the targeting of programs that mostly affect the poor. The bill had to be yanked from the House floor last week for lack of GOP support.
It's hard to say whether these failures are due to the absence of DeLay and his vaunted ability to count votes and invoke discipline, or whether DeLay's many controversies themselves have led to a breakdown in unity: Many moderates have been spooked by the GOP's low standing in the polls, as well last week's elections. It could be argued that DeLay's problems have contributed to both. At any rate, GOP unity, especially in the House, is threatened for the first time since the Gingrich era.
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Tonight's promoted story
How many Katrina victims will have their food stamps taken away? What irony! Slash the very programs these people need in order to line the pockets of those doing the rebuilding. Simplistic opinion, maybe, but not too far from the truth.
Mary G., Albany, NY (Sent Nov 18, 2005 2:05:12 PM)
Your right it is significant the GOP majority is adrift but you may not want to blame the majority leader, you might want to look higher and blame the President. Remember as goes the country, goes the House of Representatives, and as you know they face an election every two years and therefore must be in tune with the country. What we are seeing is a change in how the country wants to be run. For the first time, much of the Bush administration’s policies are being questioned.
We Americans are first and foremost patriotic and this patriotism is what won the support for the Bush administration. We as a country felt it was our patriotic duty to support the President in a time of war but now for the first time the validity of continuing the war in Iraq is being questioned. Just today we heard Representative John Murtha, a Vietnam veteran, influential on military matters, saying the war in Iraq is a "flawed policy." Once the war is questioned much of the validity of the other Bush administration's policies comes into question.
There is a sea change in the country and today’s GOP defeat is just the beginning.
Peter del Rio (Sent Nov 17, 2005 11:33:14 PM)
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