Liberal Democracy

Liberal Democracy
The Free State

Monday, July 16, 2012

Americans For Tax Reform: Meet The Press- Grover Norquist: 'Schools Liberal Media On Obstructionist Charges'


Source:Americans For Tax Reform- Grover Norquist, on NBC News's Meet The Press.

"ATR President Grover Norquist joins MSNBC's Meet the Press panel and knocks down absurd charges of GOP obstructionism in Congress." 

From Americans For Tax Reform

Grover Norquist is half-right (which is generally more credit than I'm willing to give him) that the Republican House (not Congress, sorry Democrats) have moved their agenda, including a budget and economic agenda. 

Where Grover is wrong is about Republicans in Congress not being obstructionist. Senate Republicans led by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have blocked (thanks to the cloture rule) everything that President Obama and Senate Democrats led by Majority Leader Harry Reid, everything that Congressional Democrats (House and Senate) and President Obama want to do as far as passing a Federal budget and moving the economy forward again. Including legislation dealing with infrastructure, middle class tax relief, small business, and immigration. 

So I have a proposed compromise for Senate Majority Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: 

Senate Republicans allow Senate Democrats to bring all of their economic bills or put all of those bills into one package, to the floor for debate and amendments. Senate Republicans bring all of their relevant amendments, including the bills that House Republicans have already passed, if they want too. And the Senate votes on everything. And if neither side in the Senate has 60 votes to pass their economic plan, then Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell come together or a handful of other Senate Democrats and Republicans come together to work out an agreement on economic plan that can pass the Senate with at least 60 votes. 

I'm not naive, (despite what other people may say) I know my proposal is not going to happen. You are probably not going to see another major piece of legislation passed out of this Congress the rest of year, other than to keep the government running. Both parties are simply totally focused on the 2012 elections. 

But if common sense ever made an appearance in Washington, especially in Congress (and it also stopped snowing in the North Pole for good) this is what the leaders of both parties would be doing, just because they know neither party has the power to do everything that they want and govern the country by themselves.