'Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) criticizes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for filing an amendment to the highway funding bill to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank and preventing senators from offering additional amendments by filling the amendment tree. He calls Senator McConnell's actions "procedural abuse" and compares his tactics to those of now-Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) when he was majority leader.' (Caitlyn Hillyard)
Ted Cruz took to the Senate floor Friday and charged that Mitch McConnell told a “lie,” escalating his campaign against GOP leaders and challenging the traditions of the usually decorous chamber.
In a scathing floor speech, the Texas firebrand accused the Senate majority leader of breaking his word to him and the rest of the GOP conference over McConnell’s plans for the controversial Export-Import Bank, the country’s chief export credit agency. In Cruz’s telling, McConnell privately promised him and other Republicans that “there was no deal” with a handful of senators who were seeking to revive the bank in exchange for their votes to advance a major trade bill in May.
McConnell, he said, became “visibly angry” when Cruz challenged him on the matter during a meeting in May.
“Like St. Peter,” Cruz said, “he repeated it three times. He said, ‘The only thing I told the proponents of the Export-Import Bank is like any other senator in this body, they could offer any amendment they liked on an any amendable vehicle, but I gave them nothing.’”
That day in late May, Cruz said his staff informed him that McConnell was “lying” to him, but he said he believed the Senate GOP leader that “he wasn’t lying to us.”
But after McConnell took procedural steps Friday to move to a proposal to revive the Ex-Im bank, Cruz said on the Senate floor: “I cannot believe he would tell a flat-out lie.”
What we saw today was an absolute demonstration that not only what he told every Republican senator, but what he told the press over and over again was a simple lie,” said Cruz, a fierce opponent of the bank. “The majority and minority leader, arm-in-arm again, should not team up against the American taxpayers.”
The attack is unusual even for Cruz, who has made his battle with Senate Republicans a centerpiece of his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination. Senators tend to avoid directly calling out specific senators on the Senate floor — particularly from their own party and especially their own party leader. Senate rules say, “no senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another senator or to other senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a senator.”
Asked to comment, McConnell smiled and walked away. Sen. John Cornyn, a fellow Texas Republican and McConnell’s chief deputy, said he was reviewing Cruz’s remarks and would not comment further.
Harry Reid has been at the helm of the Senate since the Dems took over in 2006. His hypocrisy and abuse of power as Majority Leader (filling the amendment tree and proforma sessions) and willingness to push the party election narrative at the expense of the American people makes him a star in the Democrat party. With the leftist media as a megaphone, Harry Reid and the Democrats will repeat their simple 'messages' to sway the low information voter.
Democrats vote Steve King ‘most clueless’ Republican
The Democrats have crowned their King.
Democratic members of
congress voted Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) the House’s “most clueless
Republican,” at a private Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
dinner Tuesday night, an aide said.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) and the Senate Agenda - Demonize the House GOP
At the closed-door event, members were shown a video highlighting
Republicans’ “tone-deaf” moments, then given a ballot to vote for the
most clueless. Contenders included Arizona Rep. Trent Franks, Texas
Reps. Louie Gohmert and Michael Burgess, Colorado Rep. Mike Coffman,
Georgia Rep. Phil Gingrey, Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp, Michigan Rep. Tim
Walberg and Alaska Rep. Don Young, according to the DCCC aide.
Showing the video, DCCC Chairman Steve Israel told the roughly 100 members in attendance the Republicans were “crazy.”
“There is nothing more important about the stakes of this election
than what you just saw – they’re in the majority, they’re running this
Congress and they’re crazy. And their craziness and chaos is
unacceptable to this country – and it’s our job to send them packing,”
Israel said.
The DCCC says it will be rolling out a similar campaign to allow supporters to vote regularly on Republican comments.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced late Thursday
that the Senate would complete work drafting a GOP border security
amendment on Friday.
Reid had been delaying adjournment for the
evening in hopes that the GOP border security amendment from Sens. Bob
Corker (R-Tenn.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) would be completed, but he
said it was “senseless” to continue work Thursday night.
Instead
to Senate will continue work on the Border Security, Economic
Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Senators Jeff Sessions & Mike Lee Discuss Immigration Bill and Amendments
Reid is expected to file cloture on the Gang of Eight’s bill in addition to the Corker-Hoeven amendment.
The
bipartisan group of eight senators, known as the Gang of Eight,
introduced S. 744, which would create a pathway to citizenship for
illegal immigrants already in the country, toughen border security,
create a guest worker program and boost high-skilled immigration.
In
the underlying bill, an e-verify system and entry-exit system at air
and sea ports must be in place before anyone is given a green card. The
amendment from Hoeven and Corker would also require construction of 700
miles of southern border fencing, the purchase of more than $3 billion
in new technology for border security, and the hiring of 20,000 more
border patrol agents mandatory before green cards are issued. The
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would have 10 years to implement
those requirements.
Republicans had complained that the original
bill made too many “promises” that were dependant on DHS drafting a
plan. With the Corker-Hoeven amendment certain border security measures
must be included in the DHS border security plan.
The Senate
considered only 12 amendments to the comprehensive bill, most of which
were GOP amendments aimed at ensuring border security measures occurred
before any immigrants were granted legal status — those failed.
The
Senate is expected to pass the immigration bill next week. Reid has
said the bill needs to be complete before the July 4th recess.
Obstructionist Harry Reid Plays Politics With Senate Bills & Filibuster
Cornyn expresses ‘shock and amazement’ at Corker-Hoeven border enforcement amendment
"After his controversial border security amendment was shot down
during today’s Senate session, Sen. John Cornyn was visibly bewildered
as Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker and North Dakota Republican Sen.
John Hoeven took to the chamber floor to propose alternative
legislation that demands even tougher enforcement.
While Cornyn said the Corker-Hoeven proposal “moved this bill in a
constructive direction,” he questioned how the amendment differed from
his own to garner the support of Gang of Eight legislators — including
Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, who slammed Cornyn’s amendment last week on the Senate floor."
"The amendment was tabled 54-43, “disparaged as a budget-buster,” Cornyn said.
To what Cornyn described as his “shock and amazement,” the
Corker-Hoeven proposal requires an additional 350 miles of border
fencing (on top of the 350 miles already required in the underlying
bill) and even more border patrol agents — a whopping 20,000.
“How is it going to be paid for?” Cornyn asked Hoeven.
Hoeven said $30 billion of what a Congressional Budget Office study
released Tuesday projected to be a $197 billion surplus in government
revenue generated by the bill would be used to implement the enforcement
measures.
South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said the bill would
“create economy growth in the country” — “Take the CBO’s word for it,”
he urged."
No-Budget Barack Obama and Harry Reid lack any credibility when it comes to this nation's budget process and the debt ceiling. While the main stream press will spoon-feed the dependent-hyphenated-American Obama supporter a legacy-sustaining myth, videos and quotes and facts will have to do for the rest of us. Here are the two top Democrat Leaders, (pic) Barack Obama and Harry Reid share their thoughts on spending and the debt ceiling below. Text and Video follow:
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Harry Reid on raising the debt ceiling in 2006:
“If my Republican friends believe that
increasing our debt by almost $800 billion today and more than $3
trillion over the last five years is the right thing to do, they should
be upfront about it. They should explain why they think more debt is
good for the economy.
How can the Republican majority in this
Congress explain to their constituents that trillions of dollars in new
debt is good for our economy? How can they explain that they think it’s
fair to force our children, our grandchildren, our great grandchildren
to finance this debt through higher taxes. That’s what it will have to
be. Why is it right to increase our nation’s dependence on foreign
creditors?
They should explain this. Maybe they can
convince the public they’re right. I doubt it. Because most Americans
know that increasing debt is the last thing we should be doing. After
all, I repeat, the Baby Boomers are about to retire.
Under the circumstances, any credible economist would tell you we
should be reducing debt, not increasing it.Democrats won’t be making
argument to supper this legalization, which will weaken our country.
Weaken our county.”
The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit
is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government
can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing
financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s
reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us
domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops
here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today
onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt
problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.
Of Course, not to be outdone by this
Obama in 2008: Adding $4 Trillion to National Debt ‘Unpatriotic
(CNSNews.com) – Although
the national debt under President Barack Obama has increased $4
trillion since he took office in 2009, as a presidential candidate in
2008 Obama criticized then-President George W. Bush for adding $4
trillion to the national debt, saying it was “unpatriotic” and also
“irresponsible” to saddle future generations with such a large national
debt.
“The
problem is, is that the way Bush has done it over the last eight years
is to take out a credit card from the Bank of China in the name of our
children, driving up our national debt from $5 trillion dollars for the
first 42 presidents -- number 43 added $4 trillion dollars by his
lonesome, so that we now have over $9 trillion dollars of debt that we
are going to have to pay back -- $30,000 for every man, woman and
child,” Obama said on July 3, 2008, at a campaign event in Fargo, N.D.
The progressive talking point is the filibuster and obstructionist Republicans in the Democrat controlled US Senate. Not only control, but in 2009, they (58 Democrats) are just 2 seats away from their super-majority of the 100 seats. They fail to mention that 2 independents, such as the only Socialist Bernie Saunders who was endorsed by Harry Reid and caucuses with the Democrats, really counts as a Dem vote. What about even one RINO Republican? President Obama never had any intention of submitting a serious budget as he would have to account for RECORD spending with only a dismal economy to show for his agenda. If the Democrats can avoid blame for causing the housing crisis, hiding $5 or $10 TRILLION more with the blame game is easy with a complicit media. The leftist propaganda machine permeates the MSM and social media with their 'messaging'.
Here is how Harry Reid Rules the US Senate as a party stooge and Majority Leader. Google Land Deal, his kid and china solar. Harry Reid has ZERO credibility.
The Senate is a unique legislative institution, designed to guarantee
that the minority party – and the large block of Americans it
represents – has a voice. Traditionally, this body functions well when
the majority party works to find consensus with the minority party on
the process and substance of legislation. Consultation and compromise
with the minority party historically has been the rule, not the
exception it has become in recent years.
Senator Robert Byrd understood the importance of allowing for a full
debate and amendment process in order to preserve the Senate as a unique institution
in our democracy – “the one place in the whole government where the
minority is guaranteed a public airing of its views.” The Senate, he
taught, “was intended to be a forum for open and free debate and for the
protection of political minorities.” Indeed, “as long as the Senate
retains the power to amend and the power of unlimited debate, the
liberties of the people will remain secure.”
Allowing the minority to debate and amend legislation has given way
to the Democrats’ election-year political strategy of blaming
Republicans as obstructionists. Majority Leader Reid has done this by
preventing Republicans from amending pending legislation, ending debate
before it starts, and by-passing the committee process.
Democrats Have Blocked Input on Legislation
Majority Leader Reid has made a habit of squelching the voice of the
minority by curtailing its ability to amend legislation. The Majority
Leader is always the first to be recognized on the Senate floor. He can
use that power to offer a series of Democratic amendments to pending
legislation in a way that prevents Republicans from offering any of
their ideas. This is called “filling the tree.”
Majority Leader Reid once insisted
that the practice “runs against the basic nature of the Senate.” By the
way the Senate operates today, however, it is clear that he has
abandoned that assessment.
According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Majority
Leader Reid has employed this tactic a record 59 times. He has used it
to block minority input into legislation 50 percent more often than the
past five Majority Leaders combined. The minority’s only option under
these circumstances is to oppose ending debate on legislation (known as
“invoking cloture”) in order to convince the majority to allow it to
offer amendments to the legislation and thereby represent the interests
of their constituents.
Democrats Have Shut Down Debate Before It Even Starts
In the Senate, the majority can end debate on any matter by a
procedure known as cloture. Majority Leader Reid has indicated his lack
of interest in deliberation by moving frequently to shut down debate the
very day measures are first raised on the Senate floor. According to
CRS, Majority Leader Reid has done this 99 times, not counting same-day
cloture filings on motions to proceed. Of these, 82 were during the
110th and 111th Congresses. In comparison, during the two preceding
Congresses Majority Leader Frist employed this tactic 30 times.
The False Narrative of Republican Filibusters
Republicans have been accused
of abusing the filibuster to thwart Democratic legislation. This claim
is based on the incorrect equation of filibusters with the number of
cloture petitions filed or the number of cloture votes taken. In short, a
cloture petition does not a filibuster make. A filibuster, however,
happens when an attempt to end debate fails. Successfully ending debate
is the opposite of a filibuster.
It only takes a quick glance at the count of
cloture votes, however, to realize that Republicans are not obstructing
with the filibuster. In fact, the percentage of cloture petitions
withdrawn or vitiated has increased to 43 percent this Congress.
This is significantly higher than the average for the previous four
decades, and the highest for any Congress in 25 years. Additionally, the
percentage of cloture votes passing – that is, invoking cloture – is
also rising. The 53 percent success rate for passing cloture votes in
the 112th Congress is the highest in the last 40 years. These figure
show that any increased incidence in cloture filings is due to the
Majority’s impulsiveness—its preference for filing cloture first and
asking the Minority to work with it later—rather than an unwillingness
of Senate Republicans to work with Senate Democrats.
Democrats Short-circuit the Committee Process to Block Debate
In the Senate, legislation generally is referred first to a committee
of Senators with specialized experience in the matter at hand. The
committee process typically involves hearings and legislative “markups”
where a small group of Senators can discuss proposed legislation in
detail and consider a wide range of amendments. This process can allow
for significant minority party participation. However, the current
majority has completely eliminated the committee process for important
matters. According to CRS, Majority Leader Reid has bypassed the
committee process 50 percent more than his predecessor during a
comparable period of time.
Democrats Change the Rules and Ignore Precedent to Shut Out Republicans
Last fall, Majority Leader Reid went so far as to change the rules
of the Senate in order to empower himself to shut out Republicans
entirely from the legislative process. He did so by using the so-called
nuclear option to change Senate procedures with a simple majority vote,
despite his commitment earlier in the year not to use this tactic.
Specifically, during consideration of the China currency bill last
October, the Majority Leader filled the amendment tree in order to
prevent Republicans from offering any amendments before cloture was
invoked. Once cloture was invoked, Republicans tried to exercise their
rights under the Senate’s rules to express themselves by offering
motions to suspend those rules—motions that the Senate Parliamentarian
ruled were proper. The majority simply changed Senate rules by
establishing a new precedent that any such motions offered post-cloture
would now be out of order. As a result, the Majority Leader was able to
squelch completely the voice of the minority on issues of importance to
its constituents.
The Majority Leader again ignored recent precedent earlier this year
when President Obama recess appointed nominees to executive branch
positions, despite the fact the Senate was in pro-forma session to
prevent such appointments. In 2007, the Majority Leader pioneered the
practice of keeping the Senate in session on a pro forma basis to
prevent President Bush from making recess appointments. At the time,
Majority Leader Reid insisted
these pro forma sessions were necessary “to block the President from
doing an end run around the Senate and the Constitution with his
controversial nominations.” By switching positions once President Obama
was in the White House, Majority Leader Reid unfortunately chose to
ignore Republican concerns and to disregard the Senate’s constitutional role in the nominations process.
When Allowed, Republican Input Improves the Process and Legislation
When Democrats have chosen to stifle debate and block the amendments,
legislation goes nowhere. When they agree to a reasonable amendment
process, however, the record of accomplishment shows that Republicans
can help clear a path forward. For example, just this week, Majority
Leader expressed his pleasure
with Republican cooperation in moving forward with the FDA legislation.
He shouldn’t have been surprised – when he consults with Republicans
and allows them to participate in the legislative process, there have
been several legislative accomplishments this session alone. When
Democrats agreed to allow amendments on the Export-Import Bank bill, the
Senate was able to complete this important legislation. This year
alone, Republican cooperation has led to passage of:
• Export Import Bank Reauthorization;
• Trade Adjustment Assistance;
• Patent Reform;
• FAA Reauthorization;
• Highway Bill
A Hyper-Partisan Senate is Not a Serious One
Rather than create hyper-partisan conditions by impulsively filing
cloture on measures, bypassing the committee process, and blocking
Republicans from offering amendments, Majority Leader Reid should work
with Republicans. The record is clear: simply allowing the minority to
participate in the process leads to consensus and accomplishment. This
should remain the rule, not the exception.
In a scathing floor speech, the Texas firebrand accused the Senate majority leader of breaking his word to him and the rest of the GOP conference over McConnell’s plans for the controversial Export-Import Bank, the country’s chief export credit agency. In Cruz’s telling, McConnell privately promised him and other Republicans that “there was no deal” with a handful of senators who were seeking to revive the bank in exchange for their votes to advance a major trade bill in May.
