GOP Straight Up Bribes Democratic Senator In Effort To Block Obamacare
The Republican Party in Virginia has resorted to what appears to be outright bribery in its ongoing effort to deny low-income residents in the state access to the Medicaid expansion authorized by Obamacare.
The Washington Post is reporting that Republicans offered to move Democratic state Sen. Phillip P. Puckett and his daughter into prestigious jobs in exchange for Puckett's resignation, which will flip the chamber into Republican hands. Pucket will officially accept the offer on Monday, the paper reported.
The Senate was on course to pass an expansion of Medicaid, as the law allows, while the House of Delegates, in GOP hands, aimed to block it. In such a scenario, Democrats hoped that Republicans would be blamed for the resulting government shutdown. With Republicans in control of both chambers, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) must now veto the GOP budget in order to force a showdown over Medicaid.
The apparent quid pro quo has sent Democrats railing.
“It’s astounding to me. The House Republican caucus will do anything and everything to prevent low-income Virginians from getting healthcare… They figure the only way they could win was to give a job to a state senator,” Del. Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax) told the Washington Post. “At least they can’t offer Terry McAuliffe a job. I hope Terry continues to stand up to these bullies.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/08/phillip-puckett-resign_n_5470640.html
Va. lawmaker to resign, paving the way for state jobs for daughter, self
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014821653
= new reply since forum marked as read
Kastama is best known in state politics for utilizing a rarely used procedural motion called "the 9th Order" to join two Democrats in temporally shifting Senate control to the Republicans to pass a budget by a margin of one vote.
The maneuver earned Kastama tremendous animus from within his own party.[3] His refusal to shift control back to the Democrats forced negotiations that eventually resulted in a bipartisan budget with 44-2 votes.
In the 2012 election cycle Kastama was a Democratic candidate for Washington Secretary of State but was defeated in the state's August 2012 primary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Kastama
Renegade #2 is still a jerk:
Sheldon made himself unpopular with the Democratic Caucus by taking a strong stance against funding the Mariners and Seahawks sports stadiums with State monies, calling the proposed legislation "corporate welfare."
Well, I'm against that too, but TPTB and conservatives with contracts convinced enough of the public it was a good idea. Some voted against the stuff.
He also voted against budgets that he felt did more harm than good to his mostly rural constituents, even when his party supported them.
Uncertain about that one.
He has been accused of being a moderate and termed a "Republican in sheep's clothing" or a "maverick" due to his erratic voting history.[citation needed] He voted for Republican George W. Bush in 2004 and then Democratic candidate Barack Obama in 2008.[2]
Not a Democrat, uncertain as to why he voted for Obama, as if I cared who he voted for. Really.
He was one of three Democratic state senators to vote against the gay-marriage bill.[3]
Writing on the wall there.
After the 2012 state legislature elections, he and Senator Rodney Tom joined the Republicans in a "Majority Coalition Caucus," resulting in a power sharing agreement, effectively giving the two Democrats control of the state senate along with 23 Republicans.
The Caucus chairs the most powerful committees (such as ways and means, commerce and labor, and K-12 education, among others) for the 2013-14 session, and a few committees, such a Transportation, he claims a "bi-partisan" co-chair with the Democratic Caucus. Sheldon is currently President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and was elected by both Democrats and Republicans.
Bad news.
Sheldon is acting President of the Senate when the Lt. Governor is not available, or when he or she is acting Governor. He is also serving on the Energy Environment & Telecommunications, Rules and Transportation Committees.[4][5][6]
Which he'd doubtless eff up. Not sure if he is any use to the Democratic Party or the west side of the state, which funds most of the east, who hate us with the heat of a thousand blazing suns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Sheldon
It's difficult to find information in WA state online now. The Libertarians and GOP have skewed search results so badly I can hardly find updates on the most basic things and they put up faux state records websites that mimic the official state ones for public information searches. Then they use loaded terms as if everyone is a Libertarian, no shit.
Anyway, we are done here, yeomann. I'm sure my post will not be what you want to hear.
I have no solutions for you other than GOTV and hope that Terry holds the GOP's feet to the fire on this.
