Democrats Force Votes With Eye on Campaigns

[tishaLA]

<...> Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) is consulting with her leadership team, including Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel (N.Y.), on how to use a procedural tool known as a motion to recommit to force Republicans to take politically challenging votes.

Under House rules, the minority party is allowed to offer one motion to recommit, which functions much like an amendment, for each piece of legislation as the last step before final passage. With their return to the minority, Pelosi and her leadership team are trying to be more savvy about using the motions to put Republicans on the politically unpopular side of issues that Democrats want to champion ahead of the next election.

So far, Democrats have offered four such motions this Congress: a proposal to require Members to publicly disclose whether they will accept government health insurance, a measure barring a health care repeal bill from taking effect unless a majority of lawmakers forfeit their government-sponsored health insurance, a proposal to bar companies that outsource jobs from obtaining government contracts and a proposal to require disclosure of foreign campaign contributors. <...>

“The Republican playbook when they were in the minority had three chapters: Chapter 1, go on offense; Chapter 2, just say no; and Chapter 3, don’t lift a finger to help,” <DCC Chair Steven> Israel said. The only chapter in their playbook that I will use is Chapter 1. We will be aggressive, and we will be on offense.”Roll Call

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Excuse us while we weasel off and go AWOL." - Republicons (R)

As usual.

[gratuitous]

2. Oh dear, how partisan!

Can you imagine? The Democrats are going to play politics with the political system! Where are my clutching pearls? Jeeves, roll out my finest fainting couch. Histrionics must be employed to defeat this dastardly plan by shaming the Democrats before they ever use it. It's worked so well and reliably before. But the audacity to claim that Republicans did this and more, too! Quick, schedule a bipartisan round table with Eric Cantor, George Will and that new chairman of the RNC, Wrenchy Pablum, or whatever his name is.

[tularetom]

3. As the republicans have discovered sometimes it's OK to be a minority

Particularly in the House where business is not conducted like some kind of gentleman's club and things can get done quickly.

Keep up the good work reps. Pelosi and Israel.