More Republican Obstructionism: Boycott Committee Vote

b.c.

Worshipped Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Nov 7, 2005
Posts
20,540
Media
0
Likes
21,779
Points
468
Location
at home
Verification
View
Gender
Male
It continues:

Republicans Boycott EPA Nominee Committee Vote

"All eight GOP members of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee failed to show up at the meeting to consider the nomination of Gina McCarthy, who currently heads the EPA's air pollution office. Committee rules require at least two minority members to be present for a vote."

"White House spokesman Jay Carney, speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Texas, called on Republicans 'to stop the theater and to move forward with the process.'"


"Carney said there has been "an historic level of obstructionism" on McCarthy and other nominees."

"...on Wednesday, Republicans used a procedural move to delay a Senate panel from considering the confirmation of Obama's pick to the head the Labor Department."
 

Dakota Kid

Admired Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Mar 5, 2009
Posts
359
Media
9
Likes
829
Points
373
Location
Cavorting between fresh and salt water peninsulas.
Verification
View
Sexuality
No Response
Gender
Male
"All eight GOP members of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee failed to show up at the meeting to consider the nomination of Gina McCarthy, who currently heads the EPA's air pollution office. Committee rules require at least two minority members to be present for a vote."
Hmmmm.....the Republicans are finally getting a clue. They took that one straight from the Wisconsin Dems play book :tongue:
 

njitalian02

Experimental Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Posts
266
Media
0
Likes
7
Points
103
Location
NJ
Sexuality
50% Straight, 50% Gay
Gender
Male
While I agree that we need cooperation now more than ever, I still see such partisanship from both sides. It's wrong to boycott as there can be no dialogue, no movement towards a center path where all parties can agree. Still, it's clear that such tactics are not just Republicans.

As pointed out above, I think we can all remember in 2011 when the entire Democratic Assembly in Wisconsin fled the State in order to avoid a quorum vote on for the Collective Bargaining Bill. I remember the actions of those Democrats being applauded. I fail to see a meaningful difference between what the Democrats did then, and what Republicans are doing now (that is except for people the one-sided criticism of such action).
 

hungandquiteproud

Experimental Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2012
Posts
222
Media
0
Likes
18
Points
53
Location
Arizona
Sexuality
99% Straight, 1% Gay
Gender
Male
Some context is in order though. The Wisconsin Democrats crossed state lines and stayed in Illinois to protest Governor Walker's plan to gut collective bargaining and union agreements. This is all but unheard of in Wisconsin's fairly rich and substantive historical involvement in pushing for union strength. And it wasn't a matter of simply pissing off progressives in Madison; we're talking statewide robustness throughout the past 50 years.

On the other hand, I've failed to realize for a long time why Republicans in Congress are so reluctant to fill nomination spots. I suppose Republicans aren't fans of federal approaches in handling clean air, water, and natural resources. Then again, they're just as apt to hate economic regulation, labor, infrastructure, and so on, for these critical positions have gone unfilled for lengths of time as well. If you need more insight, ask Cornyn and Ted Cruz, senators from Texas, why they block judicial nominees when it's THEIR job to put names forward? Length of vacancy? 5 years plus now.

Thus, it's important to equalize acts on their face; these are clearly not the same.
 

njitalian02

Experimental Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Posts
266
Media
0
Likes
7
Points
103
Location
NJ
Sexuality
50% Straight, 50% Gay
Gender
Male
Some context is in order though. The Wisconsin Democrats crossed state lines and stayed in Illinois to protest Governor Walker's plan to gut collective bargaining and union agreements. This is all but unheard of in Wisconsin's fairly rich and substantive historical involvement in pushing for union strength. And it wasn't a matter of simply pissing off progressives in Madison; we're talking statewide robustness throughout the past 50 years.

On the other hand, I've failed to realize for a long time why Republicans in Congress are so reluctant to fill nomination spots. I suppose Republicans aren't fans of federal approaches in handling clean air, water, and natural resources. Then again, they're just as apt to hate economic regulation, labor, infrastructure, and so on, for these critical positions have gone unfilled for lengths of time as well. If you need more insight, ask Cornyn and Ted Cruz, senators from Texas, why they block judicial nominees when it's THEIR job to put names forward? Length of vacancy? 5 years plus now.

I was trying to compare the GOP absence from the Environmental Meeting to avoid quorum to the Wisconsin Dems avoiding the vote in order to avoid quorum. Facts are facts. I don't know what you feel about the GOP avoiding that environmental vote, but I assume you think it's wrong. Yet still you think that the Dems doing the exact same thing is OK. The only basis you seem to put forward is: What the Dems did in Wisconsin is OK b/c I personally agree with Democratic values and I disagree when GOP do the same thing b/c that's avoiding the process. Facts are GOP controlled Wisconsin Legislature and if the majority of both Houses and the GOP Governor wanted to pass that bill, then regardless of a diatribe about the values of Wisconsin people, it's pure obstructionism to have the minority Dems walk out to oppose the vote. Are you saying that there can never be any collective bargain or union legislation in Wisconsin b/c history shows at one time those two groups held such power? I don't understand how a history lesson, no matter how vague, is relevant. Acts are acts and if you disagree with the motivation behind an action that's completely different than condoning the action of one group and then dismissing the same act when people you disagree with do the same thing.

Finally, while it's true Obama's judicial nominees are being held up, this is not new. Google Miguel Estrada who was blocked by Senate Dems b/c he was a conservative Hispanic.