Republican Obstruction In The Senate

5:38 pm EST June 27th, 2007 | Republicans | 8 Comments

Petty little men stopping America’s progress.

Some facts:

* Senate Republicans have obstructed almost every bill in the Senate – even ones with wide bipartisan support.

* So far, in the first half of the first session of the 110th Congress, there have been THIRTEEN cloture votes on motions to proceed – each one wasting days of Senate time. (110th Congress, Roll Call Votes #44, 51, 53, 74, 129, 132, 133, 162, 173, 207, 208, 227, and 228)
* In comparison, in the first sessions of the 108th and 109th Congresses combined, there were a total of FOUR cloture votes on motions to proceed.

EIGHT times Republican obstruction tactics slowed critical legislation

* Fulfilling the 9/11 Commission Recommendations (Passed 97-0, Roll Call Vote #53)
* Improving security at our courts ( Passed 93-3, Roll Call Vote #133)
* Water Resources Development Act (Passed 89-7, Roll Call Vote #162)
* A joint resolution to revise U.S. policy in Iraq (Passed 89-9, Roll Call Vote, #74)
* Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Passed 69-23, Roll Call Vote #173)
* Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Passed 64-35, Roll Call Vote #228)
* CLEAN Energy Act ( Passed 91-0, Roll Call Vote #208)
* Funding for the Intelligence Community (Passed 94-3, Roll Call Vote #129)

FOUR times Republicans blocked legislation from being debated

* Senate Republicans blocked raising the minimum wage. (54-43, Roll Call Vote #23)
* Senate Republicans blocked ethics reforms (Rejected 51-46, Roll Call Vote #16)
* Senate Republicans blocked comprehensive immigration reform (Rejected 45-50, Roll Call Vote #206)
* Senate Republicans blocked funding for renewable energy (Rejected 57-36, Roll Call Vote #223)

FOUR times Republicans stopped bills from reaching a vote

* Senate Republicans blocked funding for the intelligence community. ( Rejected 41-40, Roll Call Vote #130)
* Senate Republicans blocked raising the minimum wage. (54-43, Roll Call Vote #23)
* Senate Republicans blocked ethics reforms (Rejected 51-46, Roll Call Vote #16)
* Senate Republicans blocked funding for renewable energy (Rejected 57-36, Roll Call Vote #223)

TWICE Republicans blocked bills from going to conference

* Senate Republicans blocked appointing conferees on the 9/11 Commission Recommendations (6/26/07)
* Senate Republicans blocked appointing conferees on ethics reform ( 6/26/07)

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8 Responses to “Republican Obstruction In The Senate”

  1. Pryme says:
    June 27, 2007 at 6:10 pm

    A regular Block Party…

  2. Quaker in a Basement says:
    June 27, 2007 at 7:32 pm

    I’m so old, I remember when Republicans called behavior like that “obstructionist” and demanded an “up or down vote.”

  3. Mike says:
    June 27, 2007 at 8:04 pm

    Detestable. I can clearly recall that Democrats never voted along party lines or opposed presidential nominees on purely ideological grounds when they were the minority party. Absolutely shameful.

  4. August J. Pollak says:
    June 27, 2007 at 8:15 pm

    It’s like he read the title and went straight to CTRL-V from RedState, isn’t it? Amazing.

  5. Virginia says:
    June 27, 2007 at 8:38 pm

    Great, GREAT roundup. I’m sending it to everyone I know and ordering them to send it to everyone they know. That’s right — I’m going to become that person I can’t stand, and it’s all your fault.

  6. Enlightened Liberal says:
    June 27, 2007 at 9:54 pm

    That’s why we need 60 in 2008. Actually 61 considering HolyJoe.

  7. Wellstone says:
    June 27, 2007 at 10:11 pm

    It’s a matter of desperation for them: Their constituents know the GOP were the do-nothing Congresses, and they will do their damnedest to make sure these do nothing either.

    Despicable.

  8. C.S.Strowbridge says:
    June 30, 2007 at 6:27 am

    “That’s why we need 60 in 2008. Actually 61 considering HolyJoe.”

    That’s going to be fucking hard.

    I could see the Dems losing Louisiana.

    I could see them picking up Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, and possibly North Carolina.

    Even if they sweep those seven races, they would need four more surprises. Retirements / scandals could give us enough, but I wouldn’t bet on it.