Nuclear Option: What happens? (Democratic Agenda for America)

[Skinner]

I got this by email, so I will re-reprint in its entirety. These bills look like great stuff...

Nuclear Option: What happens?

As a matter of comity, the Minority in the Senate traditionally defers to the Majority in the setting of the agenda. If Bill Frist pulls the nuclear trigger, Democrats will show deference no longer.

Invoking a little-known Senate procedure called Rule XIV, last week Democrats put nine bills on the Senate calendar that seek to help America fulfill its promise.

If Republicans break the rules Democrats will use the rule to bring to the Senate floor an agenda that meets the needs of average Americans, such as lowering gas prices, reducing the cost of health care and helping veterans.

"Across the country, people are worried about things that matter to their families ­ the health of their loved ones, their child's performance in schools, and those sky high gas prices," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. "But what is the number one priority for Senate Republicans? Doing away with the last check on one-party rule in Washington to allow President Bush, Senator Frist and Tom Delay to stack the courts with radical judges. If Republicans proceed to pull the trigger on the nuclear option, Democrats will respond by employing existing Senate rules to push forward our agenda for America."

Democrats have introduced bills that address America's real challenges. (Details attached)

1. Women's Health Care (S. 844). "The Prevention First Act of 2005" will reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions by increasing funding for family planning and ending health insurance discrimination against women.

2. Veterans' Benefits (S. 845). "The Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2005" will assist disabled veterans who, under current law, must choose to either receive their retirement pay or disability compensation.

3. Fiscal Responsibility (S. 851). Democrats will move to restore fiscal discipline to government spending and extend the
pay-as-you-go requirement.

4. Relief at the Pump (S. 847). Democrats plan to halt the diversion of oil from the markets to the strategic petroleum reserve. By releasing oil from the reserve through a swap program, the plan will bring down prices at the pump.

5. Education (S. 848). Democrats have a bill that will: strengthen head start and child care programs, improve elementary and secondary education, provide a roadmap for first generation and low-income college students, provide college tuition relief for students and their families, address the need for math, science and special education teachers, and make college affordable for all students.

6. Jobs (S. 846). Democrats will work in support of legislation that guarantees overtime pay for workers and sets a fair minimum wage.

7. Energy Markets (S. 870). Democrats work to prevent Enron-style market manipulation of electricity.

8. Corporate Taxation (S. 872). Democrats make sure companies pay their fair share of taxes to the U.S. government instead of keeping profits overseas.

9. Standing with our troops (S. 11). Democrats believe that putting America's security first means standing up for our troops and their families

"Abusing power is not what the American people sent us to Washington to do. We need to address real priorities instead -- fight for relief at the gas pump, stronger schools and lower health care costs for America's families," said Senator Reid.

[Skinner]

1. Reid Radio Actuality

TRANSCRIPT

Americans across the country are worried about a lot of things right now. Gas prices... The heath of their loved ones…Their kids' performance in school.

So why is the priority number one for Senate Republicans doing away with the last check in Washington that prevents President Bush, Senator Frist and Tom Delay from stacking the courts with radical judges that have poor records on protecting individual rights and constitutional liberties?

After 205 judicial confirmations, the highest percentage of any president in modern times, Republicans are angry that 10 of their most radical, out-of-step judges were turned down.

So, they want to break the rules to get what they want. This isn't just about these 10 judges. It's also about the Supreme Court.

If Republicans are successful at abusing their power and changing the rules in the middle of the game, America will have no power to stop a handful of radical right-wing Republicans from steamrolling our system of checks and balances and stacking the courts.

Just this week Tom DeLay launched a bizarre attack on Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy for his decisions and for his use of the Internet.

Even Justice Kennedy, a conservative Republican appointee of President Ronald Reagan, is too moderate for the radical right-wing of the Republican Party.

Even though seven of the nine current Supreme Court Justices were appointed by Republican Presidents, the right-wing wants to remake the Court in its own image.

They want to clear the path for President Bush to appoint Justices who will not protect the right to privacy or the separation of church and state.

Abusing power is not what the American people sent us to Washington to do.

We need to address real priorities instead -- fight for relief at the gas pump, stronger schools and lower health care costs for America’s families.

You can listen here:

http://democrats.senate.gov/reidact.mp3

[Beetwasher]

4. Kick

Thanks Skinner...

[unblock]

2. what good will this do? they'll just change the rules again!

the nuclear option will be truly nuclear. they won't just take away the democrat's right to filibuster, they'll take away ALL democratic power.

we'll respond by using rule xiv to put democratic bills on the senate calendar? fine, they'll just change rule xiv so that you need a majority or a (republicans) chairperson for that.


the only way we'll be able to compete is by pressing our agenda in the media....

... uh-oh.....

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. They wouldn't even need to change the rules

They could simply let all of the bills pass. The bills would go nowhere in the House, where the majority has much less power.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[realFedUp]

5. and we hope the "media" reports these bills

instead of what color armband Michael Jackson
is sporting today

[ChiciB1]

8. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

HO! Ho! Ho! Ho!... Hee! Hee! Hee! Hee!

Take Me to the FUNNY FARM!

[nickgutierrez]

6. Sounds like Sen. Reid is prepared to drop the gloves.

I'm starting to like this guy... :)

[Misunderestimator]

7. Good for Reid... and thanks for posting.

[Dinger]

9. Yessssss!!!!!!! I Like This : ) (nt)

[proud patriot]

10. Ya know , I'm really impressed with Reid

I knew nothing about him before his leadership
position .

[LynneSin]

22. I knew he was anti-choice

and now I know this pro-choice woman absolutely loves Harry Reid

He is my hero.

If those bills are forced on the floor how is it goign to look for repukes to vote against Jobs/Cheaper Gas/Disabled Vets, etc.

You go Harry!!

[rasputin1952]

11. The issues brought forth in the e-mail, are precisely what every

Dem/Progressive...hell, every American, should be backing.

The neo-cons CANNOT argue issues, they lose every time! It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that the neo-cons are forced to answer issue based scenarios. For far too long, the Frist's and DeLay's have laid out the ideological path, and avoided the reality of the issue based challenged.

Call you Congress-critters, call the media, call everyone you can, and discuss ISSUES. Children that go to bed hungry, schools that are left to die in the inner cities, while tax money is heaped on suburban schools....students want to learn, they deserve the opportunity to do so!

Don't be misled by dogma that comes from the neo-cons...the rhetoric is all a sparrow fart in a hurricane...ISSUES are what count...:)

[tinrobot]

12. The Progressive Contract for America

I think this is a great list of issues. We need to stick to our guns and hammer on these points well into '06.

Keep it coming! I LOVE IT.

[RevCheesehead]

13. It saddens me that the CM feels it's more important to show

a bear stranded atop a tree, or a 5-yr-old in handcuffs, rather than reporting what ISN'T getting done in congress.

Thank you for posting this.
Honestly, if it wasn't for DU, I'd have NO IDEA what's going on.

[Helga Scow Stern]

14. I guess it has taken being backed into a corner

to come out fighting.

Yes!

Way to go, Reid, and Democrats. I just may begin to forgive Reid for signing the bankruptcy bill.

Edited to add:

WHAT ABOUT ELECTION PROTECTION?

[barb162]

15. These bills will get buried in those famous committee circular files

[flpoljunkie]

16. Dems will bring agenda that meets needs of average Americans, ONLY if

Republicans break the rules regarding judicial filibusters. Am I missing something here? Would this just be a meaningless publicity stunt?

Why the hell don't they do it either way? Force agenda on needs of averge Americans, that is.

"If Republicans break the rules Democrats will use the rule to bring to the Senate floor an agenda that meets the needs of average Americans, such as lowering gas prices, reducing the cost of health care and helping veterans."

[Massacure]

30. Us Democrats are a minority party. There is a limit to our power.

It wouldn't be wise to overstep what little power we do have. 2/3 of the citizens don't want the rules to be changed. Reid is just getting ready to frame the debate and paint the Republicans as their true colors if they pull the nuclear trigger.

[autorank]

17. Excellent post! Reid & Byrd forgot more than Frist knows.

I noted that every bill begins with an "S" for Senate Resolution. Reid is a genius and I'm sure he's calling on Byrd who probably memorized the Senate rules of order. Clearly, our team is playing chess while the Republicans play checkers. What do we do if we lose on "nuclear," move to this agenda and create public demand for all of these bills. What do they do if they lose, well...they just lose and then whine to the "Amen choir" of usual suspects.

Way to go Reid and Senate Democrats, which is why I'm saying...

NEW LEADERS FOR A NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY

[cbear70]

18. confused

I know I rarely post, but usually just happier to read and make phone calls..but I need help understanding what this means. If the Republicans get rid of the fillibuster, doesn't this render anything the Democrats do pointless?

I am so dismayed at the turn of the government. I am feeling that anything is pointless because the Repubs have control. I am just so upset over everything I am hearing.

If anyone could help me understand, I really do appreciate it.

Thank you so much.

[barb162]

19. you are not confused

The GOP has control and can bury all this truly vital legislation because they control all the committees and all the votes. The most we can hope to do, I think, is get some publicity in introducing the bills and hope the media picks up on it and then the public picks up on it. (Similar to the Bolton nomination; raise a stink and it is hoped, get rid of him)

[Pawel K]

21. Well, you are wrong in one point

to be fair the filibuster would only be for judicial nominees so it wouldn't apply here. However, you are correct in the fact that all of these might as well be pointless if the republicans are against it since they do hold the majority. Since the democrats came up with all this I can gurantee you they will be against it without even looking at it.

[Pawel K]

20. I posted this on another board, watch the conservatives squirm

http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=79668

Gotta love it.

I mean come on, how fucking hard is it to answer what the Republicans have done for the people?

[LynneSin]

23. Senate Rule XIV

http://lugar.senate.gov/CRS%20reports/Senate_Rule_XIV_Procedures_for_Placing_Measures_Directly_on_the_Senate_Calendar.pdf

[Just Me]

24. Oh! I hope they do a "if you, then we"; and then, turn around and do,...

,...the "we" threat (Rule XIV, "Agenda for America) ANYWAY!!!!

BUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!}(

[LynneSin]

25. This has to suck for Santorum

He's polling way behind Bob Casey Jr. for re-election and you can see Ricky (R-PA via Virginia) caving in on some leftie issues like the death penalty.

But look at the dilemna. He wants to support Frist, hell he's 3rd in line for Repuke leadership. But if he supports Frist and the filibuster then he'll have to vote on issues like Jobs, OT/Minimum Wage, Veterans, Cheap Gas and other issues that the repukes do everything to oppose and take money away from. So now Ricky is in a pinch with his re-election coming up because if he votes against these Democratic bills - he better hope George Allen or John Warner retires because his senate seat in the state where he doesn't live (in Pennsylvania) will be filled probably by Bob Casey Jr.

[tigereye]

26. let's hope Casey leaves him for roadkill.

Oh, how I despise that man. Few can top Rick for sheer hypocrisy.

[Adelante]

27. No. 3 would really hurt them

"3. Fiscal Responsibility (S. 851). Democrats will move to restore fiscal discipline to government spending and extend the
pay-as-you-go requirement."

I think Americans of either party and across class lines are ready for this.

[confludemocrat]

28. Reid has shown more balls than any Demo in years

Meanwhile, not a soul has mentioned him for President. He is plain speaking, he fights back, he is a true working man's Democrat.

So what if he's mormon, he could carry a few southern states and incredibly, Utah and Idaho, I bet.

[Dave Sund]

29. He's too effective where he is

One of the main reasons I don't want a Senator as our nominee in '08, other than their inability to win, historically, is that our best candidates are better Senators than they would be Presidents.