Boehner joins filibuster fight against Democrats
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker John Boehner joined fellow Republicans in the Senate on Thursday in their battle to stop Democrats controlling that chamber from curbing filibusters, threatening to ignore bills the Senate sends him if Democrats have abused GOP senators' rights to slow consideration of legislation.
The threat by Boehner, R-Ohio, represents an unusual escalation across the Capitol building of a bitter partisan fight that has been brewing in the Senate for weeks. It also underscores a Republican effort to retain as much power as they can next year, when Democrats will control the White House and Senate and Republicans will lead only the House.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said that on the first day of the new Congress in January, he may take the unusual step of using a simple majority vote to limit filibusters.
Usually it takes a two-thirds vote to change Senate rules. A simple majority would mean Democrats could change the filibuster rules without GOP support, and the threat has infuriated Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other Republicans. Democrats will control the new Senate 55-45, including one Democratic-leaning independent.
Boehner said that Reid's threat "is clearly designed to marginalize Senate Republicans and their constituents while greasing the skids for controversial, partisan measures."
He added, "Any bill that reaches a Republican-led House based on Senate Democrats' heavy-handed power play would be dead on arrival."
Though the rules change would not occur until next year, Boehner suggested that it might poison the atmosphere even sooner, "at a time when cooperation on Capitol Hill is critical."
President Barack Obama and congressional leaders of both parties are currently bargaining over deficit-cutting measures that would avoid the so-called fiscal cliff of big tax increases and deep spending cuts scheduled to begin in January unless lawmakers find a way to avert them.
Minority parties in the Senate use filibusters - parliamentary delays - to slow or kill legislation. They can only be ended by 60 votes - a margin neither party can achieve without some cooperation from the other side.
Democrats say Republicans are abusing filibusters by resorting to them too frequently, and statistics show minority Republicans have increasingly used the tactic in recent years. Reid's plan would forbid the use of filibusters when a bill is initially being brought to the Senate floor for debate and require filibustering senators to actually be on the Senate floor, a long-abandoned practice.
"It is a shame to see Speaker Boehner join Sen. McConnell's desperate attempt to double down in the status quo of Republican-led gridlock in Washington," said Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson.
Republicans say they have used filibusters more because Reid blocks them from presenting amendments. Reid, in turn, says Republicans use too much time pushing amendments that make political statements or that are designed to derail bills.
The battle has prompted numerous sharp exchanges on the Senate floor in recent days between Reid and McConnell.
Neither side has ruled out negotiating a solution to the dispute.
The threat by Boehner, R-Ohio, represents an unusual escalation across the Capitol building of a bitter partisan fight that has been brewing in the Senate for weeks. It also underscores a Republican effort to retain as much power as they can next year, when Democrats will control the White House and Senate and Republicans will lead only the House.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said that on the first day of the new Congress in January, he may take the unusual step of using a simple majority vote to limit filibusters.
Usually it takes a two-thirds vote to change Senate rules. A simple majority would mean Democrats could change the filibuster rules without GOP support, and the threat has infuriated Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other Republicans. Democrats will control the new Senate 55-45, including one Democratic-leaning independent.
Boehner said that Reid's threat "is clearly designed to marginalize Senate Republicans and their constituents while greasing the skids for controversial, partisan measures."
He added, "Any bill that reaches a Republican-led House based on Senate Democrats' heavy-handed power play would be dead on arrival."
Though the rules change would not occur until next year, Boehner suggested that it might poison the atmosphere even sooner, "at a time when cooperation on Capitol Hill is critical."
President Barack Obama and congressional leaders of both parties are currently bargaining over deficit-cutting measures that would avoid the so-called fiscal cliff of big tax increases and deep spending cuts scheduled to begin in January unless lawmakers find a way to avert them.
Minority parties in the Senate use filibusters - parliamentary delays - to slow or kill legislation. They can only be ended by 60 votes - a margin neither party can achieve without some cooperation from the other side.
Democrats say Republicans are abusing filibusters by resorting to them too frequently, and statistics show minority Republicans have increasingly used the tactic in recent years. Reid's plan would forbid the use of filibusters when a bill is initially being brought to the Senate floor for debate and require filibustering senators to actually be on the Senate floor, a long-abandoned practice.
"It is a shame to see Speaker Boehner join Sen. McConnell's desperate attempt to double down in the status quo of Republican-led gridlock in Washington," said Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson.
Republicans say they have used filibusters more because Reid blocks them from presenting amendments. Reid, in turn, says Republicans use too much time pushing amendments that make political statements or that are designed to derail bills.
The battle has prompted numerous sharp exchanges on the Senate floor in recent days between Reid and McConnell.
Neither side has ruled out negotiating a solution to the dispute.
Compromise - representation of all people - was the ahllmark of Congress for years.
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We need to not only get rid of these people that place party first and the welfare of America second. It doesn't matter if you are Democrat or Republican, compromise. The "my way or the highway" only works when one party is in power; then years down the road is payback when the other party wins.
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Stop. Compromise. No one party has the best idea for everything or we would all think alike. We also could do away with freedom since there would be no differing opinion allowed or repsected.
Boehner was and always will be a roadblock to getting beyond the status quo. Already showing he doesnt have the better interests of the people in mind. I believe he is begging for a second term as house speaker. Keep begging, John.
Boner. (No typo) Pretty much says it all. He's a bone head, he's about as thinking as a boner and he's a goof-up (read: boner) all the way around. Why can't we get rid of this hack?
".... Republicans say they have used filibusters more because Reid blocks them from presenting amendments. Reid, in turn, says Republicans use too much time pushing amendments that make political statements or that are designed to derail bills ...."
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Reid has a point. How many times have the repubs tried to overturn the ACA since it was passed - 33 and counting, and every single attempt went nowhere but cost taxpayers big $$$ to attempt it while REAL problems went unaddressed.
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Too bad there can't be some accountability like we have in our jobs - you are given a set of goals that you are required to reach, and if you do not reach them you are disciplined "up to and including termination" - and if you are terminatred, you are not allowed to run again EVER nor are you allowed to collect federal retirement benefits. The goals are set every year by popular vote of the taxpayers, and they Congress is given the top 10 that MUST be addressed, and a clear deadline when they must be addressed & resolved by or the ax falls..
".... Boehner suggested that it might poison the atmosphere even sooner, "at a time when cooperation on Capitol Hill is critical ...."
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Cooperation?!?!?!? Cooperation, being willing to compromise, working together - ALL are seen as 4 letter words in Congress by BOYTH sides. They need to QUIT worrying about themselves & their parties & their big-bucks campaign contributos and STRT worrying about "We the People" and the Unoited States.
More GOP waist. They shouldn't get paid or fed when they filibuster! Once again the GOP just waitsing time and the tax payers money.
There used to be a few filibusters per year in the Senate. Then they changed the rules to eliminate the actual process of filibustering. The Republicans have done something like 400 filibusters in the last congressional session. It is being abused. The Dems and the GOP should agree to go back to the original way a filibuster was done. Then it is fair for everyone.Â
 @lakeview:Â
And considering how few days they were actually even in session, 400 is a disgustingly high number! According to what I found with a google search, to date they have been In Session 150 days for the House and 140 days for the Senate - so they are doing on average nearly THREE filibusters per day in session!
Harry Reid needs to start bringing up legislation passed in the House.  Reid also needs to pass a sustainable budget ,the House has done so Â
Will the two parties cut this stupidity out and start working together before we become annexed by the Chinese?
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Thank you.
There is a warning here! Both Dem's and GOP's take a look at the past election. If you don't start working with the White House the voters will find those that will. Doesn't matter which party runs the White House you had all better play nice or the vote will be less in your favor next time around. The Politicians forget there is TV, computers and social media. The voters can see daily what you AREN'T DOING!
 @wardog The power does not go to the White House. The power is in Congress,read the U.S.Constitution. All spending has to pass the House first,then the Senate. The only power the White House has is to sign the legislation,veto,or let it go into law. This is the problem ,not R VS D it is a power struggle of the Senate and White trying to circumvent the Constitution.
Interesting that Boehner's home state fell to Obama and the Democrats, yet he is standing firm that his direction is the best direction for the Fiscal Cliff! Obviously not listening to the voters and the direction of the population of his home state and the Country.
 @DinkorSink Look at the map of Ohio. The Progressive Dems are going to urban areas and making promises of taking from one group of citizens and giving it to another group of citizens.
The Repubs gonna screw their own future,people will be so tired of them screwing around
and act like cry-babies !
professional career politicians are an annoying bunch, no matter which party. I vote for term limits (1 term) in both senate and house... and if you don't agree, I'll filibuster your proposal - that sounds so childish, doesn't it? Â
@Komo Dragon ok lets do this. the senate is controlled by the republicans the White House has a republican in it an the house is democrat controlled. the fillabuster has been done a way with the senate passes a bill to make all gays non us citizens. because there was nothing to stop it and the house some how can't block it and it becomes law. gee i know that would never happen. but the filibuster is a safety valve to stop or slow down bad ideas. they might be good ones to you bad to me and visa versa.
 @wynooheeman  @Komo Well, if the Senate/House passed a bill like that, the president would still get a chance to veto it. If the President let it pass, there would surely be a supreme court case arising from it, resulting in the law being overturned (as it is obviously unconstitutional.)
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We have three branches of government for a reason. Checks and balances between them are necessary to prevent unconstitutional/oppressive laws. Progress-halting gridlock in congress arising from pointless politicking is not useful or necessary.
@wynooheeman  Are you done ranting yet. Good Grief.
@lakeview or reverse the power in the senate and say mitch mcConnel wanted to do this would you be for it? or would you scream bloody murder because the dem can't block senate bills?
 @wynooheeman Obamacare is Constitutional according to the Supreme Court. Get over it.
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Nobody is saying that the filibuster should be eliminated. Reid want to change the rules to make it what it used to be. Go watch "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" to see what that is.Â
I want the dems to have that same option as the republicans have right now if they lose the senate.
@Joah @Komo OK change the rule and in 2014 if the dems lose the senate which they most likely will because they have 23 seats up for grabs. then they will not have the filibuster to use. Then lets see who is crying then.
@Joah @Komo um can you say OBAMACARE? unconstitutional and opressive.
 @wynooheeman  @Komo The flaw in that is that you have the Dems in control of the House - so no such bill would pass anyway.
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The Republicans would shoot their nose off to spite their face. They would rather drive the whole country off the fiscal cliff than to give in on their sick twisted principals. I was once proud enough to say I was a Republican but that was many years ago and I am glad I left the part of no and stall and stomp my feet to get my way.
@mstipton well the Dems are doing the same thing 2014 is coming an 23 Democrat seats up for reelection change the rule and then is the democrats lose the senate and they can not fillerbuster then what?
You sound like a broken record. Don't hold your breath!
"If you don't play the game my way I will stand right here stomping my feet, plugging my ears, closing my eyes and squealing until you do." - Said every politician ever.
Fire the whole damn bunch and fill their spots with random selection from the phone books for each state and legislative districts.  The fiscal cliff is looking pretty good right now. Cuts spending and raises revenue.
 @al_wa "The fiscal cliff is looking pretty good right now."
Well, at least Romney would have to pay more in taxes...right?
 @OrcasThunder  @al_wa
 And by "pay more" I assume you mean "actually pay," yes?
 @Mikeftm  @al_wa That would be the hope...
@al_wa boy you sure do like the smoke and mirrior game your be played for. That cliff is nothing the cuts ain't going to amount to nothing but a tear drop in the Pacific. Compared to the fiscal avalanche that is looming. when the nations stop buying our debt and china and the other nations dump our debt. Nothing the president or the houses of congress can do. The total amount of the national debt will be do at that time. Interest rates will shoot through the roof maybe to the moon and beyond. Taxes oh they will raise by 100 percent for every one even the 47 percent who pay zero income tax now they will pay out big time. all GDP will have to go to pay the debt. that means zero to SS zero to the military zero to anything other then the debt. That is the big problem. they don't want you to know about. All they have to do right now is cut 1.3 trillion in spending across the board that is the amount we get from china a year. not raise taxes and we would be ok.
@wynooheeman  You really drink the cool aid don't you.