Tag: House GOP

Controversy, Mid-term Election, Politics, President Obama

Republicans Gain Full Control Of The House And Senate For First Time In 8 Years

The ReadyWriter

Obama-covers-NYPost-550x616

The GOP has officially gained control of both the House and the Senate following the results of Tuesday’s mid-term elections.

A Republican tide ripped the Senate away from Democrats Tuesday, giving the GOP full control of Congress and the power to pin down President Barack Obama during his last two years in office.

The thumping win upends the balance of power between the White House and Capitol Hill only six years after Obama’s Democrats swept to power and marginalized Republicans in a rush to reform health care, Wall Street and pass a huge stimulus package.

Now, it’s Democrats who will take the back seat on Capitol Hill, relying mostly on the power of the filibuster to stymie Republicans and keep Obama’s legacy intact.

House Speaker John Boehner, celebrating a widened majority, said this:

“I am humbled by the responsibility the American people have placed with us.”

“But this is not a time for celebration,” he said. “It’s time for government to start getting results and implementing solutions to the challenges facing our country, starting with our still-struggling economy.”

Sounds like this is going to be an interesting and long two years.

 

Govt Shutdown, Politics, President Obama

The Senate Rejects House Amendments to Spending Bill; Gov’t Shut Down at Midnight

The ReadyWriter

The Senate Rejects House Amendments to Spending Bill

The Senate voted today to reject the House GOP’s amendment to defer ObamaCare for one year. The provision was killed by an all-Democratic vote earlier today. The House GOP’s amendments also included a Conscience Clause, or an opt-out for contraceptive coverage.

The ball is back in the House GOP’s court. Unless there is a last minute change of heart by the House GOP leaders, the government will shut down at midnight tonight.

House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) stands by his decision not to accept a spending bill that does not include provisions to delay or defund ObamaCare for at least one year.

President Barack Obama said he was not resigned to a shutdown and plans to continue talking to congressional leaders.

From the Washington Post:

The Senate rejected House amendments to a short-term spending bill Monday, killing a provision that would delay President Obama’s health-care law and moving the U.S. government closer to its first shutdown in nearly two decades.

The Senate vote came shortly after Obama said he was not resigned to a shutdown and plans to continue talking to congressional leaders.

The 54 to 46 party-line vote made good on a vow by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) to reject a funding bill approved by the House early Sunday because it would delay Obama’s signature 2010 health-care law for one year and repeal a tax on medical devices.

Immediately after the Senate convened Monday afternoon, Reid moved to table the House amendments. That exercise required a simple majority and was accomplished solely with Democratic votes.