Cap and tax liveblog: Democrats limit debate, stampede toward national energy tax
STAMPEDE!
Scroll for continuous updates…there will be 3 hours of general debate and a grand total of 1 GOP amendment…
9:36am: GOP Rep. Pete Sessions is on the House floor right now blasting Dems, who just moved to limit debate. It’s “unacceptable” and “undemocratic,” says Sessions. Proposals to protect farmers and agriculture won’t be considered. Sessions recounts meetings at 2am, being handed massive, new 300-page amendment. “No one has read this bill.”
“Why are we rushing to do this with a trillion dollar spending plan that will result in killing jobs and make it more difficult for us to come out of recession?”
9:57am: Dem. Rep Castor claims this mad-rush boondoggle will “bolster science.” (Insert bitter laughter). Channels all the previous apocalpytic rhetoric swilled before every bailout: “What if we don’t act!? We can’t afford not to act?!”
Chicken Little with a green coat.
10:02am: GOP Rep. Pence blasts “embarrassingly short” debate on behemoth bill. Says there are reports that there are new trade restriction in the bill, but who knows. No has read the bill. The way the bill is coming to the floor should be disturbing to every American. Last night at 3:00am, House Dems filed 309-page amendment and denied 224 GOP amendments. Three hours, 1 amendment filed. What’s the hurry? What are we hiding – that we can’t afford more time for Americans to examine what’s in the bill? What’s in it? Corporate welfare? Special provisions to placate members? Majority just denied us one additional minute of debate?! This is not Congress! I don’t know what this is…a travesty!
Pence also mentioned that Dems shaved another minute from the GOP’s time.
10:14am: Crikey. Sheila Jackson Lee is babbling about “getting the carbon out of the air.”
10:20am: GOP Rep. Biggert talks about the five amendments that she proposed and Dems rejected. Calls attention to national building codes.
10:22am: Dem Rep. Quigley preaches cult of global warming science. Says there are no contrary studies. Gee, I wonder why: Ask Alan Carlin!
10:24am: GOP Rep. Marsha Blackburn: We are the party of KNOW. We want the people to KNOW what’s in this bill! You go, girl.
10:38am: Philip Kerpen at AFP says Dems. Ortiz and Mollohan are now no votes.
Another prominent fence-sitter: Blue Dog Dem Chair Allen Boyd.
The pay-offs:
More than a dozen Democratic members of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition were not ready to back the bill as of Thursday, many of them concerned with the rising utility prices that would result.
“The most important thing is what impact it is going to have on our constituents in their daily lives,” said Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla., who is co-chairman of the Blue Dogs and undecided on the bill.
Boyd said he has fielded calls from White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. “He wants it done,” Boyd said.
Democrats have cut numerous deals to get them as close as they are now, the most recent concessions made to win over members of the House Committee on Agriculture, whose chairman, Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., agreed to back the bill only after negotiators agreed to put in place provisions favorable to farmers and those growing corn for the production of ethanol.
Even with those changes, Boyd said, “I’m not sure it helped as much as everyone thought it would.”
But the bill has come closer to passage than most expected even a week ago, when Peterson was leading more than 40 Democrats in opposition to the bill.
That number has been whittled down considerably, said Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., “because of the tenacity of the speaker and the commitment of the president.”
***
11:52am: Don’t give up. It’s close. The latest:
House Democrats narrowly won an important test vote Friday on groundbreaking legislation to combat global warming and usher in a new era of cleaner energy. Republican opponents said it included the largest tax increase ever.
The vote was 217-205 to send the White House-backed legislation to the full House. Thirty Democrats defected, reflecting the deep divisions over the plan. Supporters and opponents agree it mean higher energy costs, but they disagree widely on the impact on consumers.
12:25pm: Human Events reporter Connie Hair reports that Dems do not have votes yet.
1:03pm: Ed Markey just finished blubbering about a future where gas stations are gone and all our children plug, uh, er, their cars, uh, er, in, utilizing, the electricity, for which to power their, uh, er, cars.
The nation is in such hands.
2:06pm: Rep. Anthony Weiner argues that if you don’t hurry up and pass cap and trade, you support the terrorists.
Nice to see the Left rediscover the word “terrorist.”
GOP Rep. Rohrbacher follows. “If this passes, jobs will go to China and economy will go to hell.”
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Regulus–are you old enough to remember the way Saturday Night Live mocked the death of Franco?
‘Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead’
It should suprise me anymore but it still blows my mind that they don’t even read these multi-trillion dollar bills anymore.
I just clicked on Foxnews.com. The picture they have on their front page of MJ would scare the bejeesus out of anyone.
Still infatuated with celebrity.
Like everyone who voted for Obama.
should = shouldn’t.
I blame baby caused fatuge!!!
Vicki, then check out that link above that Blizzard provided #79.
Beachmom, thanks also for the link…just emailed FNC too.
3 minutes ago from AP:
House Democrats narrowly won an important test vote Friday on groundbreaking legislation to combat global warming and usher in a new era of cleaner energy. Republican opponents said it included the largest tax increase ever.
The vote was 217-205 to send the White House-backed legislation to the full House. Thirty Democrats defected, reflecting the deep divisions over the plan. Supporters and opponents agree it mean higher energy costs, but they disagree widely on the impact on consumers.
Alas Babylon?
It used to be that the words, “a billion” anything shocked the mind. Now we hear “a trillion dollars” bandied about like it’s chump-change. We’re the chumps if we don’t throw the bums out of office!
Did it pass?
You can also e-mail FoxNews about them ignoring this important coverage in favor of non-stop Michael Jackson to:
yourcomments@foxnews.com
and
newsmanager@foxnews.com
luvamerica
When can we revolt and arrest these treasonous SOB’s?
The beginning of the end of the United States of America?
And this is because…? Because they live on Mars?! The hell is wrong with this lot?
and the dishonesty of congressmen and women who are willing to sell out their constituents.
No; the beginning was last November on election day. We’re now seeing the manifestation of what started on that day.
Nope, that happened on January 20, 2009
This was somehow or another classified as a test vote and does not ultimately pass the bill itself from what I have read but I could be wrong.
Many millions of people who THINK they do not pay Federal taxes will be hit hard by this–and millions of us who know all about Federal taxes will be hit hard. It will reverberate all through the economy for generations, cost Billions or more and cost millions of jobs. Green Jobs? Go to the Green Police and apply for one.
But it will accomplish two things: a revenue stream to Fedzilla and power over more aspects of our lives–the Fascist dream come true. With the Hate Crimes and Judge Sotomayor on the horizon we can say “America, you will be missed-welcome to the New World Order“. Individual home ownership is such a bourgeois thing anyway-nice government housing will be more energy efficient.
Keep your powder dry good people.
Later, as we’re paying $150 to fill up our VW Jettas and Grandmas are either baking or freezing to death in their homes because they can’t afford the utilities, we’ll wonder what the heck happened.
Naw, when the welfare recipients decide that their power bills are too high they will petition the government for redress and even more of your money will be redistributed their way. They will continue to vote for people who offer them something for nothing for as long as there are enough working class people left to pay for it.
Yes I realize that not everybody on welfare is the proverbial leech on society but when you have generations of people who have made welfare a career choice … well you cannot tell me that there is not something wrong somewhere.
No, really it happened on January 20, 1989 when George H W Bush was inaugurated. On that date, the GOP began a long, slow and accelerating slide toward big government and socialism. “New World Order” was a favorite term of Bush 41.
And just like the people in Europe–they will not care the effect on the future, as long as they get what’s coming to them now.
Yeah… well GFY Rahm.
No, we will know what happened. It’s the Obamaba worshipers that’ll be wondering….and still blaming Bush.
You’re correct but, at the rate we’re going there won’t be enough people working!
Prediction: About a year or so after this bill becomes law (certainly before 2012 elections) “scientists” will finally notice that global temperatures appear to have leveled off and may even be falling. This will be attributed to Cap-and-Tax bill and will be used as a justification to keep it in place despite the obvious damage it is causing to the economy. The MSM will be filled with interviews with everyday Americans who think it is worth the economic pain because now we don’t have to worry about New York City being 10 feet underwater or Wisconsin turning into a desert. Also numerous stories about how wrong the Global Warming Deniers were. Anybody that presents data to show this cooling was in place before the bill was passed or that CO2 levels are unchanged will be derided as eccentric kooks. The issue will be allowed to fade away but the taxes will remain in place and even slowly increased over time. Count on it.
Oh, I think Dear Leader will make sure there will be enough workers to do his bidding for his Workers Paradise. We’ll all be working for him.
Are the Dems really this stupid???
When American’s see their electric bills skyrocket they’ll be ready to chop heads.
There is no way the Dems will be able to shift blame. If this passes, they should kiss their majority good-bye.
On June 26th, 2009 at 12:27 pm, jsr said:
I can’t even get to the house.gov site. There servers must be getting totally hosed! I doubt that it matters what we think but I am going to try and tell these idiots not to vote for this lunacy.
When unemployment strikes 15% in a couple of years maybe they will start to care…
It seems as if they are not stupid and not even considering shifting blame but taking over completely. Who do you have to answer to when you have all the guns?
Don’t think so. Global C02 levels will be higher than ever what with China and India continuing to develop. This thing will be exposed for the scam it is.
One could only hope….
Welcome to the Democratic Legislation Orgy.
-Fascist Control of Industry
-Cap n Crush (the economy)
-ObamaNonCare
-Illegal’s Amnesty and benefit entitlement
-Unfairness Doctrine
-The Bow to our Aggressors Bill
And he no doubt has more up his sleeve. 2010 can’t come soon enough. Lets hope if happens before illegals start voting (more) and before ACORN further corrupts our election process. Once they fix the vote for good… we’re done.
Yes, that was the inspiration…
If there’s one downside of FNC, it’s their proclivity to want to beat a personal interest story to death, then beat it some more until it stops quivering, then beat it some more. My first exposure to this tic was when it took 9/11 to finally drive Chandra Levy/Gary Condit off the air, and since then the “One Week Rule” has been a pretty good model to use.
FNC isn’t going to want to talk about anything else until next Thursday or Friday. If you want news from them, read the crawler at the bottom of the screen, because that’s the only place you’ll get any.
Get with the program. Rahm wants it done.
I’m trying to phone Petri. I’ve called about a dozen times and it’s busy, busy, busy…
Regarding the question posed in Comment #13 –
a Bloomberg editorial quotes from a 2008 book by Daschle:
“Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them”
You need one of these.
Got through to Petri. Told the person who answered the phone that this was a bunch of BS, she seemed ambivalent but promised to pass along the message.
We’ll see.
Ok, NOW can we say that the Democrats are anti-American?
Where are the typical leftists on this now? How can they defend yet ANOTHER RUSHED BILL on their watch that will impose billions upon billions of costs on the American people?
People who are plugged in and continue to vote Democrat at this point are truly subversive, IMO. There’s no other explanation other than perversity and insanity.
As pathetic as FNC is being about the self-hating, health-ruining MJ, NBC was a 1000 fold worse. I sat at a repair shop getting my car repaired and had to hear Kathy Lee and some other air heads talking. Because of them, I propose that we take all that bad carbon and shove it into the empty heads of the political, media and press fools. It will be safe there. Nature abhors a vacuum.
You missed the thread yesterday. LGM had the gall to claim real Americans are people who buy into the “global warming” nonsense and are willing to have the government tax the hell out of everything.
Basically, look at it this way. The cost of everything – from energy and gas to food and clothing – will double.
Will your salaries double, too?
No? Didn’t think so.
I just got through to Klein. The person answering the phone said she had no idea how he’d vote, but took my message anyway.
Not that it will do any good, he always does what Pelosi tells him to.
channeling lgm (this is gonna hurt)
But but but Bush was worse.
end channelling…
I got the same answer from Kleins office.
Another one to add to my ‘Why I can’t stand Ron Klein’ list
Assuming we have one more open election to stop them do you? ACORN in charge of the census, Holder at Justice, Federal Elections Commission, McCain-Feingold deciding what is and is not correct political speech, Friendly Federal Judges over ruling elections? Hate Speech rulings, Hate Crimes legislation pending, Fairness Doctrine pending? Rather large assumption there–Germany had it’s last open election in 1933 for a while–Fascist do find a way- Cap and Tax is Power-Fascist do not easily surrender power.
These people are from Chicago-they know how to steal elections-thuggery is their Holy Communion-William Ayres their Prophet. Await the knock on the door/keep your powder dry good people.
It seems as if provisions have already been included in the bill to reimburse the increased energy costs for welfare recipients.
What did the federalist papers say about trying to turn the US into a democracy?
Farewell! Farewell to all her greatness!
I just figured out why someone who is already dead or who may die as a result of Cap-and-Trade is so important to the Democratic Party: More Democratic voters.
ECS
I just heard Limbaugh read from the bill a clause that states that a monthly stipend will be direct deposited to poor families for the impact of this bill on their energy costs.
This gets scarier and scarier.
So even though they are spouting that producing electricity is causing carbon emissions, they are trying to get everyone into a car that will cause our energy use to skyrocket? And we have the “privilege” of paying more for it? My head hurts.
So even though my working middle-class family will struggle with higher costs, I also need to throw in more money so other families can enjoy their 72-degree home?
Its classic re-distrubution of wealth.
We must sacrifice to help the poor.
Sarc/
Man alive! Even STEVE BALLMER gets it!!
What is it with these guys like Warren Buffet and Ballmer?? What rarefied form of crack were they smoking that they didn’t see this coming????
My link didn’t come through.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aAKluP7yIwJY
Now that makes me wonder just how many left wing wack ‘o jackson jivers they expect to pick up as steady viewers? Is that Roger Ailes decision I wonder.
That move reminds me of the way dems treat the blacks and jews but they always get their votes. The conservatives have no place to go…I don’t watch fox anymore anyway.
I think it’s called “white guilt”. And they “felt” instead of thought
I sent Fox an e-mail begging them to turn Neil Cavuto and Glenn Beck loose on the Cap & Tax crap bill today and to please let MJ rest in peace. Enough already!!!!
I have tried to call my Congresscritter, Joe Courtney D-CT but the lines have been busy at his DC and local office.
Send_Me:
Along with the dihydrogen monoxide ban, we should also look into stopping plate tectonics. Think of the lives we could save on the west coast!!
*snicker*
(We now return you to your regularly scheduled discussion.)
Per John Boehner’s office…
We need Democrats. Focus on the blue dog dems because we need about 10 of them to shift.
From grassroots.org:
If a staffer tries to reject your call because you do not live in that Congressmen’s district, politely tell them you understand that Obama, Al Gore and others are not confining their calls to their one Representative and so neither will you.
I tried too – finally just sent an e-mail. Have to say though, it’s kinda like talking to a brick wall. When I went to one of his “town hall” meetings, it seemed lots of “lights on nobody home”.
I’ve got even a bigger problem. Just think of all the bad things that happen because of gravity. People fall down and get hurt.
We have to stop the ill effects of gravity.
Please send money to me now for your gravity tax.
I just heard on C-Span, a Congressman from California….
HERE ARE BLUE DOG DEMS ON THE FENCE OR ARE UNDECIDED:
Mike Arcuri, New York, 24th District,
(202) 347-3042
Leonard Boswell, Iowa, 3rd District,
(202) 547-1334
Allen Boyd, Florida, 2nd District,
(202) 543-5777
Chris Carney, Pennsylvania, 10th District,
(202) 737-5877
Lincoln Davis, Tennessee, 4th District,
(202) 543-5777
Joe Donnelly, Indiana, 2nd District,
(202) 488-1445
Brad Ellsworth, Indiana, 8th District,
(703) 354-7444
Jim Marshall, Georgia, 8th District,
(478) 742-1100
Mike McIntyre, North Carolina, 7th District,
(910) 738-8683
John Salazar, Colorado, 3rd District,
(202) 479-2527
Zack Space, Ohio, 18th District,
(202) 347-3042
WRONG # FOR MIKE ARCURI:
202-225-3665
Sorry …
Yep. Amensty will only increase that long line of people getting “assistance” from the taxpayers. 98% of all illelgals will be in the bottom 20% of earners. Bet the libs didn’t factor that into their numbers.
Here’s a thought. One way for us to stabilize, then see net reductions of CO2 without ridiculous gov’t heavy handed policies is to, pay attention it is real complicated, STOP IMPORTING MORE PEOPLE. Wow what a concept. More people means more need for utilities/gas/construction/food/etc. But alas, the dems will not only give amensty, they will also push for more immigration, forcing even more drastic actions by industry to meet the new standards. We are in a death sprial.
Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion is even worse! All that Action/Equal Reaction stuff is unfair! We must repeal the 3rd Law and tax the reactions on Luxury vehicle collisions!
One thing about electric cars I have have never heard discussed. Just wait until “the children” find out they need a minimum of 4 hours to charge up and they realize 10 minutes before leaving for work or their yoga lesson they forgot to plug the car in.
Oh yeah. That will be the fault of the evil corporation that was forced to make the POS.
Please disregard phone numbers above. I got them from another site that listed blue dog dems. Some #s are correct, some go to their campaign office. Sorry about that folks …
# for Boswell: 202-225-3806
First guy put me on hold for 5 min. Called back and got through. Staffer didn’t ask if I was in district or not because they sound awfully busy … hopefully answering phone calls.
Rep Boswell 202-225-3806
How did that work out for North Korea, Cuba and the Eastern Bloc? Energy cost effect EVERYTHING-food, clothing, home building,cars, imports, transportation–what remains of our manufacturing base is toast. Jobs evaporate and inflation roars–the Misery Index returns.
Until they run out of our money. There will be no grand alliance to crush this Fascist state; after the Unrepentant Capitalist are dealt with they go after the Jews–Rahm Emmanuel and David Axelrod may do well for a while -everybody has their favorite Jew as Herr Himmler said.
Tis up to us and no one else. Resistance is mandatory.
It’s the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics that’s the killer! Let’s regulate THAT…
After all, if we can cause the ice caps to make their way all the way to Arizona… oh wait, that is SO 30 years ago… if we can cause the ice caps to MELT and defy the laws of physics by causing water to take up more space than ice and cause the oceans to rise… then certainly we can change the laws of physics!!
Oh forget it… channeling leftists is making me nauseous.
We are the proverbial frog in the pan of water. The pot is now boiling and we appear to be pretty much cooked! Call Congress all you like. But you will find that they don’t care what we think.
Joy: The movie “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” similarly defied logic when a meteor shower sets the Van Allen Radiation Belts on fire. Seems Hollywood doesn’t realize a fire in space is impossible as there is NO oxygen (it is a vacuum after all) to burn.
Then, to compound the movie’s stupidity, the submarine is threatened while traveling under the North Pole as the ice cap is melting and breaking up with the result that the ice is sinking and crashing down on top of them.
This is relevant as the plot revolves around the demise of Earth and its citizens by the resulting global warming! I am amazed OwlGore didn’t take cuts from the movie to use in his production more accurately called “Convenient Lies.”
I was in the 8th grade when I saw this in the theater and recall laughing out loud at the stupidity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyage_to_the_Bottom_of_the_Sea
And then there is this from the Declaration of Independence.
Concord and Lexington are our Heritage and just possibly- regretfully-our model. Our we Free People or European subjects of the state? Do we stand as Free Men or crawl like whipped dogs? It is up to us.
This has always been my most favorite and most frightening portion of this Document.
This will cause our property taxes to go up too. It will cause the costs of energy to go up for schools, municipal buildings and every other place our states, towns and cities operate.
Health care will become more expensive as the costs for doctors and hospitals escalates.
Here in the Northeast, where Chellie Pingree, our congcritter is going to vote for this, our home heating oil and natural gas are going to skyrocket. When things like that happen, we see more homes burn down because of faulty wood stoves and space heaters. So this will also be responsible for people losing their homes and possibly lives due to outrageously priced oil and natural gas and K2.
I’m convinced “undecided” only means 1) don’t want to hear from constituents and 2) waiting to find out what I’m going to get for voting the way Pelosi demands.
And yes, this is yet another way to redistribute the wealth – first you pay for their mortgage, then their car, now their heating and cooling and soon their health care. Of course through welfare we already pay for their food and other living expenses.
Nail49 –
I forgot that. Too funny!
I emailed Mary Bono yesterday, urging her to vote no on this monstrosity. I thought I would at least get a “form letter” generic response, but nothing. I was very sad to see she is now a strong YES, according to the link above. She is just another RINO and I may as well vote for whatever dem comes along to challenge her next year, because I see no difference. I’d like to think Sonny would’ve voted No on this bill and would be appalled at her support.
If TPTB think the home forclosures have stopped, they got another thing coming. No one will be able to keep their homes because they won’t be able to afford their utilities.
Moonsbreath – what’s worse, my mother-in-law will probably move in with us because she can barely afford the cost of propane living in Michigan now. AAAHHH the humanity!
I hope you do not think I am being funny but a SS check just about makes someone rich here and I know a place for some great fried chicken. It is not for everyone but … well … there are benefits to living in a tropical paradise.
No need for heating and if you want aircon, it may cost you forty bucks a month. (Forty bucks pays my rent for the month too but I do not use air conditioning)
Wartip – sounds like a plan to me! I’ll make the green beans and mashed potatoes. Can I stick my feet in the ocean?
You have your choice of the Pacific, the China sea and the Philippine sea. Tuna costs about a buck a pound, beer is cold and cheap and chicken costs about a buck a pound but in many places the breasts can be purchased a little cheaper. Potatoes also cost about a buck a pound.
Some of the beaches are pretty nice but some are not. It may pay to visit first.
She used to be my congress critter but now I have open borders Jerry Lewis
Bono was only a conservative until she was elected, now she is a socialist.
I have an Ideas since our Congress does not care about the constitution any longer, how about we all refuse to pay our taxes in mass as a protest to the communist SOB’s in Congress?
At this point in time I am fortunate enough to live where I do not need to earn enough to pay taxes to make a living. When they start basing the tax rate on supposition, I am just as screwed and my response will not be pretty.
The sky is falling.
So we must pass the <insert your choice of Stimulus/Energy/Health/Card Check> bill now.
This kind of circus is very common in the country I came from, India.
Last I checked, India is still considered a third world country (a country of MILLIONS of slum dogs).
Thanks to booming IT sector, India is steadily progressing from its third world status.
With our CRAP-n-Tax bill, we may soon swap our “Developed” nation title with India and become a third world nation ourselves.