'Republicans Just Seized Control of the Washington State Senate'

[Newsjock]

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/02/republicans-just-seized-control-of-washington-state-senate

Utilizing a parliamentary maneuver called the "9th Order", and thanks to the support of alleged Democrats Jim Kastama, Tim Sheldon and Roney Tom (a man who doesn't even deserve a "D" in his name, let alone next to it), Republicans have just seized control of the Washington State Senate Floor in attempt to force through the Republicans 233-page budget proposal, without hearings or review. You can watch the debate right now streaming on TVW. It's pretty dramatic.

So much for bipartisanship. Or even decorum. This is at best a political stunt, at worst a coup.

UPDATE (4:57 PM): Kastama, by the way, is running for Secretary of State as a Democrat. Given his betrayal today, I'd vote for a Republican in November before marking my ballot for him. Not that it matters, as I can't see how he now gets enough Democratic votes in the primary to make it through the top-two.


http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/02/state-democrats-are-pissed

Sen. Ed Murray (D-43): “This is a huge step backwards for parliamentary process. Transparency is being tossed out the window, along with any hope of bipartisanship.The motion is whether to consider SB 5967, to not vote, to undertake a budget under consideration on the floor when it hasn’t been reviewed."

Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33): "SB 5967 is a dark, backroom, secret document. We shouldn’t be doing this. This is beneath us."

[Suich]

1. Can Gov. Gregire veto it? n/t

[grasswire]

2. the Breitbart school of governance?

This is getting tedious.

[RainDog]

3. k&r n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. guess vaginal probing going to become the law for Washington state women

[starroute]

5. I asked my son about this

Last edited Sat Mar 3, 2012, 03:17 AM - Edit history (1)

Since he's out in Washington and follows this sort of thing.

It sounds pretty dirty. I mean, this didn't just happen. It's pretty unprecedented. The Democrats were totally blindsided. It had to be planned carefully. And the three "Roadkill Democrats" who the Republicans peeled off to turn their 22-27 minority into a 25-24 majority must think there's something in it for them that makes it worth bucking their entire party.

My son also says that this will never get through the House, but that the Republicans must see it as giving them bargaining chips when it goes into reconciliation. Or at the very least getting the less progressive House version of the budget to serve as the baseline instead of the more progressive version that Senate Democrats were hoping to pass.

And he recommended this blog to follow events: http://publicola.com/2012/03/02/update-on-attempted-budget-coup-senate-at-ease-as-both-sides-plot-next-move/

"The Republicans have unveiled the highlights of their budget proposal, which comes with a balanced budget amendment, a debt limit amendment, smaller pension benefits for new state employees, deep cuts in the Disability Lifeline, and the elimination of the state food assistance program."

"The Democrats tried to add the Reproductive Parity Act—a pro choice bill—onto the package proposed by Sen. Don Benton (R-17). The Democratic play lost with, oddly, pro-choice Republican Steve Litzow (D-41, Mercer Island) voting against the effort. Litzow is a fiscal conservative, and had apparently decided the GOP budget play was too important to foil by forcing Republicans to add a pro-choice bill to their package. Litzow also voted against a separate proposal to consider the act on its own."

[Suich]

6. Thanks so much for that link, starroute!

Or, thank your son! After Newsjock made the post I switched channels. I watched until he got to about the third or fourth page reading, then got bored and quit watching. I had no idea what was really going on so I really appreciate your post!

Thanks so much!

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. Tim Sheldon is a jackass, but not a good kind. n/t

[Suich]

10. Sounds like Kastama is, too!

I don't know anything about either one of them, but this whole thing stinks, especially when it happens on a Friday.

[starroute]

14. And 3:30 on a Friday afternoon, no less

This needs to get more national attention.

[Zalatix]

7. Calling all Washington State Liberal Democrats!

It's yours for the taking in the next election season!

[Carla in Sequim]

9. We just moved here last July

and were happy to see marriage equality get passed. But now this plus the news today that Norm Dicks is retiring. We are registered and ready to vote but it looks as though I'll need to get more involved. I signed up the Inslee campaign but now I will need to find out who is running for my district. Man, lots of work to do!

[Suich]

11. Welcome to DU and Washington, Carla in Sequim!

Post in the Washington State Forum if you want:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1082

It's pretty dead now but should pick up when the Koch brothers and Rove start the negative ads against Maria Cantwell, and now, Norm Dicks!

[Carla in Sequim]

12. Thanks, Suich

I was here on DU for a long time but had to take a break. I'm glad to be back here again. I guess I better donate to get my star back.
We really love it here and we are ready to put the gloves on!

[Scuba]

13. Echos of Madison, 12 months ago.