House of Representatives

Takeover Thursdays – Repeal, Repeal, Repeal, BUT…. No Replace!

Posted on by Bobby Broadway

Rep Al Green (D-TX)

Since the day the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare aka ACA was signed into law (March 23, 2010) Republicans have talked about repealing the law….

REPEAL AND REPLACE!!!!

The only problem is there is no plan to replace, well Republicans will tell you they have a “plan”. But there plan is more of incremental changes that will not insure nearly as many Americans and will not put much of a dent in the rising cost of healthcare.

So how is it Republicans have been talking about repeal and replace since 2010 and now that it is 2012, there is NO real plan to replace?

What kind of leadership is Speaker Boehner providing for the GOP if he can’t come up with some kind of plan to replace Obamacare.  The GOP had 2 YEARS to come up with something, instead they are empty-handed.  And once again Republicans in the House of Representatives decided they must have another vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act…. For the 33rd time, and for the 33rd time there was no plan to replace.

Here is a funny but truthful speech by Representative Al Green from Texas:

Kudos to Al for speaking the truth and showing the foolishness of the GOP, by the way here is great descriptive pic that the Democratic Party Facebook page posted:

As always….

If there is something to be said, “It’s On Broadway” to step up and say it!!

F-A-Natic Fridays – Rep Cohens compares GOP to Nazis, WTH!

Posted on by Bobby Broadway

So it didn’t take long before a dumbass Democrat made himself and the party look like hypocrites.  Representative Steve Cohen from Tennessee referred to the Republicans “lies” concerning Health Care Reform aka Affordable Care Act as Nazi propaganda; the type of propaganda that led to the Holocaust.

WTH is wrong with this guy?

With all the talk of civility what sense does it make to compare Republicans to the Nazis?  As Democrats we cannot stand on a soap box and call out Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin for their recklessness… and then turn around and act just as reckless!

SMH……

They say it’s a government takeover of health care, a big lie just like Goebbels. . . . You say it enough, you repeat the lie, you repeat the lie, you repeat the lie and eventually, people believe it. Like blood libel. That’s the same kind of thing. . . . The Germans said enough about the Jews and the people believed it and you had the Holocaust. You tell a lie over and over again. And we’ve heard on this floor, government takeover of health care

This is the kind of nonsense Democrats need to stay away, stick with the facts and outlandish examples like this is unnecessary.  I hope Democrats leaders come out and condemn the words of Cohen; actually they better if they want the American people to take them seriously.

And Cohen definitely needs to apologizes as well….

“Anderson let me say this, I won’t say it again, but I was right…” – Steve Cohen

As always….

If there is something to be said, “It’s On Broadway” to step up and say it!!

Talking Points Tuesdays – Repealing Health Care Reform Law

Posted on by Bobby Broadway

When the Democrats were “Shellacked” in the November Mid-term elections it was said that the downfall of the Dems and President Barack Obama was the focus on Health Care  Reform.  Political pundits on both sides along with Republicans leading up to election night and the day after said time and time again that the focus should have been on Job Creation and bringing down the National Debt.

So when Republicans started the 2011 session of the House of Representatives the first bill they decided to bring to the floor of the House was; drum roll please…….

Introducing “Repealing the Job–Killing Health Care Law Act”

With all the talk of listening to the people and how the House or Reps belong to the people Republicans have decided to turn a deaf ear to the people and follow their obsession; Barack Obama.  This is all about defeating Obama and whatever it takes to make it happen.  It doesn’t matter that the #1 concern of the people is the debt and the economy; polls show that Americans may not be thrilled with the Health Care Reform Act but there are number of things about the bill they like.

If the GOP continue down this road they will only be shooting themselves in the foot and are setting the stage for Obama’s 2nd term.  As the president’s favorable numbers improve (50%) the idea of Obama losing in 2012 will be nothing more than a silly pipe dream for the Republicans.  They better smarten up before it’s too late; the idea of it still being early is nothing but an illusion, just ask Democrats!

As Mike Barnicle  from MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” repeatedly said last year, “It’s the Economy stupid!”

We all know the Health Care Reform Act is far from perfect but it is a starting point, if Republicans don’t want to believe a Moderate Liberal like myself how about former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn)

“It is not the bill that [Republicans] would have written,”

“It is not the bill that I would have drafted. But it is the law of the land and it is the platform, the fundamental platform, upon which all future efforts to make that system better, for that patient, for that family, will be based.”

“[The bill] has many strong elements,”

“And those elements, whatever happens, need to be preserved, need to be cuddled, need to be snuggled, need to be promoted and need to be implemented.

Yes, that is Republican Bill Frist who is saying work with the foundation of the legislation and improve it; not sure what to think about the “Cuddled” and “Snuggled” parts but everything else Republicans should listen to… HAHA!!

As always….

If there is something to be said, “It’s On Broadway” to step up and say it!!

Takeover Thursdays – Republicans resume control of the House…

Posted on by Bobby Broadway

Nancy Pelosi hands over Majority Speaker of the House to John Boehner

So here we go folks, “The Boys Are Back in Town”…

Republicans are once again in control of the House Of Representatives and this time things will be different!

Seriously, Boehner and the Republicans promise this will not be a repeat of 1994 when they took control of the House during the Clinton presidency.  They will not make the same mistakes that was made back then as they understand that the House is for the people and not a toy for career congressmen.  Yesterday (1/5/2011) Speaker Boehner officially became the Majority Speaker of the House and during his address to the House laid down a framework (Rules Package) for a “New Congress”.

“No longer can we fall short… No longer can we kick the can down the road… The people voted to end business as usual and today we begin to carry out their instructions.”

“The American people have humbled us; they have refreshed our memories to just how temporary the privilege of serving is.  They have reminded us that everything here is on loan from them…”

Boehner focused on the following key points:

  • An emphasis on ‘REAL’ transparency
  • Greater accountability
  • A renewed focus on the constitution
  • Legislators and public will have 3 days to review bills before they come up for vote
  • Implement Cut-as-you-go; in order to introduce any spending you must first make cuts in other areas to pay for the spending
  • A fair an open process
  • You will always have the right for a debate to make your case and offer alternatives on legislations

Hmmmm, I have to admit at first glance the above framework for running the House SEEMS to be impressive… BUT it took Republicans less than a day for them to already break one of their “RULES”.  During Boehner’s speech he made sure to point out that a Nancy Pelosi run House did not allow for real debate and that would not be the case under his watch.  Well I guess Eric Cantor must have missed the memo; Cantor has already stated he will put forward a repeal bill (repeal health-care law aka Obamacare) but he will not allow amendments from the Democrats.

Um, that doesn’t sound like a…

fair an open process or a debate allowing everyone the chance to offer alternatives on legislation!!

This is the “New Congress”?

I am more than willing to give the Republicans a chance to do their thing but come on guys, at least let the dust settle before you start breaking your own rules.  It’s still early but the GOP is not showing me anything; they rather work on repealing Obamacare as they call it instead of focusing on the deficit and creating jobs.  Speaking of deficits, I thought Republicans and the Tea Party were serious about controlling spending and running a fiscally responsible government?

If that is the case, why would they not include tax cuts as part of their Cut-As-You-Go program?  Republicans made sure that tax cuts were exempt from Cut-As-You-Go; this will allow the House to present tax cut legislation that could be unpaid for and add to our already $14 Trillion dollar National Deficit.

I don’t know John Boehner this looks a whole lot like “Business As Usual”

but I guess “We can disagree without being disagreeable….

As always….

If there is something to be said, “It’s On Broadway” to step up and say it!!

Militant Mondays – Senate Test Vote Passes Tax Deal….

Posted on by Bobby Broadway

President Barack Obama

President Obama received some good news today after a rough couple of days where he has received a ton of criticism from his base (Democrats); including me (check my posts from last week).  Today Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) was able to bring a test vote to the floor of the Senate on Obama’s Tax Deal.

President Obama’s Tax Deal with GOP:

The GOP got around $95 billion in tax cuts for wealthy Americans and $30 billion in estate tax cuts. Democrats got $120 billion in payroll-tax cuts, $40 billion in refundable tax credits (Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and education tax credits), $56 billion in unemployment insurance, and, depending on how you count it, about $180 billion (two-year cost) or $30 billion (10-year cost) in new tax incentives for businesses to invest. – via Ezra Klein (Washington Post)

The deal received the 60 votes (super majority) needed to avoid any possible filibuster.  Obama said the following after the vote,

“I recognize that folks on both sides of the political spectrum are unhappy with certain parts of the package. And I understand those concerns. I share some of them,” he said.

However, he said, “Taken as a whole, the bill that the Senate will allow to proceed does some very good things for America’s economy and the American people.” – via Miami Herald

Senators spoke afterwards about reluctantly voting in favor for the Tax Deal as they feel they cannot afford to let the tax cuts expire for the Middle Class as well as not implement the tax credits, payroll-tax cuts, and not extend unemployment benefits.  The consensus is that it is better to accept that tax cuts for the rich and have unpaid for unemployment benefits than to risk a double-dip recession.

Now all eyes are on the House of Representatives; once the Senate officially votes in favor of the deal it will be sent to the House for approval.  House Democrats have already voted in favor of a resolution stating they will not support the Tax Deal in its current form.  At the end of the day this deal will pass but i foresee that there will have to be some kind of tweaks to the deal.  I don’t believe there will be any major changes but there will be some, Democrats in the House will have to save face after all the grand standing they have done over the past week.

At the end of the day this deal will PASS…

I will continue to say that I am not happy with this deal but I will have to live with it; almost all economist and business experts say that the tax cuts in combination with the pay-roll tax and tax incentives for the business will spur a necessary economic growth that will continue an upward trend for an economy that has been slowly growing.  I can only hope that the President will stand by his word and fight in 2012 to make sure the tax cuts expire for the rich (and possibly the middle class).  The President is banking on that he will have a stronger economy and a lower unemployment rate on his side to pressure Republicans into being fiscally responsible.

I hope Obama is right, ultimately he has decided to “kick the can” of ending unpaid for taxes and really attacking our national deficit down the road to 2012.  I just hope it will not be too late… what would help is if the President would take a serious look at the findings of the Debt Commission.  We need a strong plan going into the next 10 years on how we are going to reduce the deficit; right now China and other nations we are borrowing from cannot be happy with the United States potentially adding another $1 trillion dollars to the deficit.  If the U.S. economy fails the World Economy fails…

So President Obama you stated a week or so ago that you would dare Republicans to challenge, well I hope you are up for it because it will not only be Republicans challenging you!!!

As always….

If there is something to be said, “It’s On Broadway” to step up and say it!!!

Middle Class Tax Cuts Pass in the House, but…

Posted on by Bobby Broadway

During the Lame Duck session of Congress Nancy Pelosi was able to pass Middle/Working Class tax cuts through the House of Representatives.  Officially 168 Republicans voted against permanently extending the tax cuts for the middle/working class; basically voting for a tax increase for the middle class!

This permanent Middle/Working class tax cut will be voted down in the Senate; the problem is that Democrats do not have the 60 votes necessary to protect this tax cut from a filibuster.  Harry Reid will bring this version of the tax cut and other versions up for tests votes to se which version of the legislation will garner the most votes. 

Here are some versions that will be brought up for test votes

  1. The House passed permanent middle/working class tax cuts for those who make less than or equal to $250,000
  2. Senator Schumer (D-NY) has proposed a middle/working  class tax cuts where the cap would be raised to $1 million dollars.  Meaning if you make less than or equal to $1 million you will receive a permanent tax cut.
  3. Senator McConnell (R-KY) make tax cuts for upper wealthy and middle/working class permanent
  4. Permanently pass middle/working class tax cuts and temporarily pass tax cuts for upper wealthy fo the next 2-3 years.

Senator Reid could bring this up for vote starting Friday; more than likely #4 will be the version that will receive the most votes.  In my opinion Sen. Schumer’s proposal is the most fair offer as it will not only give th middle/working class the tax cuts they so desperately need but it will also cover more people making up to $1 million dollars.  While at the same time still being fiscally responsible.

Unfortunately, Republicans will continue their obstruction ways… and they will continue this until they have enough votes to pass what they want.  Republicans will support permanently pass middle/working class tax cuts and temporarily pass tax cuts for upper wealthy fo the next 2-3 years.  In 2 years Republicans will then have another election to gain the necessary votes to permanently extend those temporary tax cuts.

With out of control debt there is only 1 solution to ensure another $700 Billion is not added to our already $13 trillion-dollar debt.  I think the president should take a stand and show everyone who’s the boss; let all the tax cuts expire, it would be a risky move on his part but it would be a position where he could stand and show he has the proverbial balls to make tough decisions that would start bringing down our debt.

I highly doubt he will do that…

Meanwhile here is video of Nancy Pelosi on the floor of the House talking about Middle Class Tax cuts:

 As always….

If there is something to be said, “It’s On Broadway” to step up and say it!!!

WTF/WTH Wednesdays – Charles Rangel’s last Harlem Shake????

Posted on by Bobby Broadway

The Ethics Subcommittee found Harlem Representative Charles Rangel guilty of 11 of 12 counts of ethics violations.  This is seemingly the beginning of the end for Charlie; as his next appearance will be in front of the Ethics Committee where he will receive his punishment.  Many believe Rangel will not be expelled from Congress but he will not be able to regain the Chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee (which he would have lost anyway with Republicans winning the majority in the House) and his reputation/legacy will forever be tainted by this controversy.

Rangel is the last remaining member of the Harlem’s Gang of Four still in politics.  The group consisted of Rangel, Basil Paterson (David Paterson’s Dad), Percy Sutton, and David Dinkins.  With Rangel’s follies it is a true lost for Harlem; Rangel carries 30 years of political experience in Washington and New York that cannot be recaptured easily by young and upcoming Harlem politicians.  Old Charlie finally let the game catch up to him; after 30 years of Congress Rangel was late to adjust to the new world.

When Nancy Pelosi took over as Speaker of the House, she promised to clean up Congress.  Those rules didn’t only apply to Republicans…

Rangel was facing 13 charges of financial and fund-raising wrongdoing, but the committee combined two counts.

Among other things, Rangel was accused of using his official letterhead to solicit money for a center in his name at City College, filing erroneous financial-disclosure statements, and misusing rent-controlled apartments in Manhattan.

Rangel was acquitted on the charge of violating the House of Representatives rule on accepting gifts. The panel was deadlocked on that count, 4 to 4. – NYC Daily News

The shame of it all is the power of the House Ways and Means Committee; potential reforms to programs like Social Security, Welfare, and Medicare would pass through this committee.  Losing some one of Rangel’s clout is a blow to Liberals that could potentially the “30 Something” crowd and others to follow.

At the end of the day Rangel was his worst own enemy; the irony in all of this is that in 1970 and upstart Charlie Rangel beat the embattled incumbent Adam Clayton Powell Jr; Powell was a highly controversial congressman who faced a number of accusations of unethical use of his office and chairmanship.

Who knows what the future holds for Charlie; even with all the accusations he was able to win a landslide victory this past mid-term elections.  He could remain a congressman when it is all said and done; I just don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing…

 

As always….

If there is something to be said, “It’s On Broadway” to step up and say it!!!

 

Takeover Thursdays – Anthony Weiner

Posted on by Bobby Broadway

If you don’t know Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY), you better get to know this kat!

Rep. Weiner performed his own version of a ‘Takeover’ Wednesday morning in the House of Representatives. In about 7 minutes Rep Weiner summed up all of the frustrations of the White House, Democrats/Progressives in the House and Senate and the American people who support Health Care Reform (HCR).

Finally someone took it to the Republicans as Anthony Weiner started his rant by telling Republicans, “You guys have chutzpah (audacity)…”. Weiner’s Brooklyn side came out on this day, he took the floor of The House like a thug from BK taking a street corner.

In the wake of the Health Summit, Rep Weiner went on a rant pointing out the hypocrisy of Republicans and Democrats. Twice during his rant Weiner was stopped as he called Republicans, “wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry…”. Basically saying that Republicans are in the hip pockets of the insurance companies and will do whatever to protect those companies; aka BITCHES for Health Insurers.

When he made that statement Rep Lungren (R-CA) asked that Weiner’s “words be taken down…”. Lungren is saying here that Weiner’s comments are inappropriate and requesting that they be stricken from the record. In doing this Lungren is able to interrupt Weiner and have him restate his comments using different language. After a short delay Weiner is then permitted to continue.

In one of the more Gangsta moments you will ever see in The United States House of Representatives; Weiner refuses to change his comment and basically continues to call Republicans the BITCH of Health Insurers. Again Lungren interrupts Weiner request his “words to be taken down”. Once Weiner is allowed to continue you can still feel the fire and passion from him. He rips Republicans for standing in the way of real reform, change that is good for the people. As Weiner is wrapping up his diatribe he points out that the long-standing hypocrisy from Republicans is coming to an end, “Enough of the phoniness. We are gonna solve this problem because for years our Republican friends have been unable to and unwilling to. Deal with it!”

Here is the video of Rep. Weiner’s rant:

Democratic Senators & Representatives need to watch this video and take notes. For too long Democrats took the high road and tried to have intellectual debates about HCR, we saw this time and time again during the summer with all the town hall meetings. That message was not being heard by the masses; Rep Weiner message Wednesday was heard by all and is the perfect lead-in for the Health Summit taking place Thursday morning!

Photobucket

President Obama, if you were looking for someone in Congress that would fight for Health Care Reform. Look no further than that kat who reps Brooklyn and Queens. Rep Anthony Weiner, I salute you… You own “Takeover Thursday”

As always….
If there is something to be said, “It’s On Broadway” to step up and say it!!!