An insurgent group of House Republicans is pushing to codify the “Hastert rule” to only allow bills with majority GOP support to come to the floor.
It’s not likely the full Republican Conference would back a formal rule, which would tie the hands of Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio as he tries to get immigration legislation and debt and budget deals through the House later this year.
But with an immigration rewrite looming and Boehner unwilling to guarantee that he’ll follow the Hastert rule, some of the more conservative House Republicans are nervous a compromise will be brought to the floor that falls short of their priorities — such as provisions to guarantee border security — and includes components many dislike, including a pathway to citizenship that some blast as a form of “amnesty.”
Roll Call
And they have the nerve to say this is to ensure that "the will of the majority" rules. As though Democratic representatives represent no one. As though there weren't more votes for Democrats than for Republicans in the 2012 elections, with their majority preserved solely through gerrymandering.
And who is pushing for this? Why, the Club for Growth Greed and Heritage Action and other groups who are afraid that Democrats might get something done.
We are writing you today to encourage you to boldly use your majority not only to present a positive conservative vision, but also as the last backstop against the worst excesses of liberalism and Washington deal-making,” they wrote. “Liberal Democrats control the White House and the Senate. We should not help their cause by handing them the keys to the House as well.
It probably surprises many Kossacks to learn that Liberal Democrats control
anything, but there you have it. Would the Club for Greed lie?
Imagine if this was happening to Nancy Pelosi. Imagine the MSM musing about whether or not she was man tough enough to be speaker. Also imagine the impressive collection of desks in the parking lot after the letter was delivered to her office.
Of the three branches of government, one is utterly dysfunctional, in both Houses, because the GOP does not believe government should function. Not "can" function, but "should".