Everyone's Getting Testy
| Thu Nov. 19, 2009 10:56 PM PST
The Washington Post reports that tempers are getting short on Capitol Hill. And not just among Republicans:
President Obama's allies in the Congressional Black Caucus, exasperated by the administration's handling of the economy, unexpectedly blocked one his top priorities, using a legislative maneuver to postpone the approval of financial reform legislation by a key House committee.
....The House committee had been set to vote to send the final piece of its regulatory reform package to the House floor after months of debate. That is, until the committee's chairman, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), told a shocked committee room that passage of the bill would be delayed until Dec. 1 because the Congressional Black Caucus wanted the administration to do more to help African American communities suffering in the economic decline.
....Congressional aides said the caucus's concerns are similar to those of the Democratic Party's liberal wing. Caucus members are pushing for legislation that would directly lead to new jobs by providing tax benefits, for example, that would provide incentives for home renovations and funding for new infrastructure projects. They also want to extend health-care and unemployment benefits.
Apparently the White House is well aware of all this, but if "congressional aides" are correctly describing the situation, what exactly is the problem here? If the CBC wants these pieces of legislation, why not introduce them? Surely their beef is with their own leadership more than it is with the White House. Last I heard, Congress is still allowed to originate legislation even if the president isn't enthusiastic about it.
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Comments
Does the CDC have control of
Submitted by Scu (not verified) on Fri Nov. 20, 2009 8:57 AM PST.
Does the CDC have control of the right committees to introduce these pieces of legislation? I think there are a lot of practical concerns that might be tied to their leadership as much as it is toward the President.
Are you seriously saying the CBC ought to just be quiet and work with the system? Please tell me you are not pushing the "uppity Negros need to be quiet" line. Because, when I read this, that is my first impression.
Now, putting that aside, the assumption this is about crafting bills is, more than likely, not the case. I see it as political manipulation to force the administration to adjust it's focus and it's agenda. SOP as I see it, from my corner in the basement.
Oh, okay. I no longer have a basement, and my desk is not in a corner even now. Oh, and I am out of Cheetos and Pepsi.
I don't think that Kevin is
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Nov. 20, 2009 9:28 AM PST.
I don't think that Kevin is making anything like the claim you are attributing to him.
But congrats for playing the race card where it wasn't needed, fuckhead.
If folks want a second stimulus, bring it to the floor.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Nov. 20, 2009 10:29 AM PST.
If it passes the President would likely be relieved and sign it.
Take the Paul-Grayson Fed audit; everyone in power is against them but they have broad support in the House b/c Congress doesn't want another bailout and they're looking for a scalp to take down before the 2010 elections.
The biggest mistake, larger than not getting the stimulus right, was not taking someone down for the financial collapse. People needed to see someone doing the perp walk after bilking the US of trillions.
There may be a particular political calculus at work here
Submitted by kcavness on Fri Nov. 20, 2009 11:08 AM PST.
This could be essentially an attempt to get their voices heard. The CBC is a small group and has done this sort of thing before -- for example, objecting when the Electoral College votes were certified -- in order to get heard. I personally don't have a problem with it, and Dec. 1 is not as far away as it sounds. Plus, they seem to have a point.
Why the emphasis on the CBC?
Submitted by alex (not verified) on Fri Nov. 20, 2009 12:12 PM PST.
They're but one of many voices in congress that want Geithner out. Read the article. It's both left and right. The AIG bailout report is but one more indication that Geithner and most of the rest of Obama's economic team (*cough* Summers *cough*) are Wall St. toadies.
Thank goodness we're finally hearing this from congress. Saying it's political is silly - of course everything that congress does is politics. That doesn't mean they're wrong.
Kevin Drum: "Surely their beef is with their own leadership more than it is with the White House. Last I heard, Congress is still allowed to originate legislation even if the president isn't enthusiastic about it."
Two words: committee system. As for their "own leadership" its not as though Obama has no influence on the Democratic party, or that the appropriate committee members in congress aren't well bribed.
What's this about?
Submitted by MarkH on Fri Nov. 20, 2009 1:18 PM PST.
I think Bank of America is worried about the Fed audit and they've asked their local Rep. to kill it. So, the CBC offers a choice: kill the audit or give them something very nice on jobs. The administration, and all the Dems I think, are now seeing they need to push very hard for job creation and other populist things, so the CBC would/will probably get about anything they ask for in the way of job creation (targeted or broad-based).
The public sentiment against banks is very strong just now and I think they're going to just have to grin and bear it. If the Fed has been operating fair & square, then everything will work out. Politicians will often respond to business interests, but when populist anger is high they have to respond to that (particularly House members).
What a stupid argument
Submitted by Paul Camp (not verified) on Fri Nov. 20, 2009 10:22 PM PST.
Why would anyone who feels strongly about an issue be satisfied by introducing a bill that they know they are going to watch die? What exactly is wrong with giving the powers that be an incentive to take your concerns into account? Maybe the administration won't be quite so indifferent if a deal enables them to get something they want.
I thought this was how the system was supposed to work.
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