McConnell blocks bill to reopen most of government

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN/The Hill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blocked legislation on Thursday that would have reopened most of the federal government impacted by the partial shutdown.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) tried to get consent to take up a House-passed bill that would reopen all agencies except the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is at the center of the shutdown fight. But McConnell objected.

The Senate GOP leader didn't explain his objection from the Senate floor but he has warned for weeks that he will not bring up a government funding bill unless it's the product of an agreement between congressional Democratic leadership and President Trump.

"The solution to this is a negotiation between the one person in the country who can sign something into law, the president of the United States, and our Democratic colleagues," McConnell said Tuesday when he blocked a House bill as well as a piece of legislation to fund DHS through Feb. 8.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mcconnell-blocks-bill-to-reopen-most-of-government/ar-BBSozi5?li=BBnb7Kz

[SHRED]

1. He's lying

He didn't mention a veto-proof majority.

[pazzyanne]

2. Exactly!!!

[onenote]

13. There is no chance of a veto-proof majority

Check the numbers. Do you think there are 55 Republicans in the House that would go against Trump?

[mpcamb]

3. Screw that sewer bidge sucking rat.

[Kajun Gal]

4. Piece of shit!

[scarletwoman]

5. Has there ever been such an evil asshole as McTurtle?

It's fucking beyond belief - words fail me...

[smirkymonkey]

21. No.

I am beginning to believe he is more evil than Trump. I despise that man with the fire of a thousand suns.

[SunSeeker]

6. About time the headlines started mentioning McConnell by name.

Now if they would just fact check his ass, like pointing out his line about there being no point to vote if Trump won't sign it is bullshit since there is a veto proof majority in the Senate for this bill. It was approved unanimously in the Senate just a few weeks ago!

[onenote]

16. The Senate vote from December is irrelevant.

Republicans voted for that bill because they thought Trump supported it. Without his support for it, they won't support it, certainly not in numbers needed to override a veto.

[SunSeeker]

18. If that was true, Mitch wouldn't be afraid to have a vote. nt

[onenote]

19. He's protecting Republicans from having to vote.

If they go against Trump, they lose support amongst the 30 percent die hard Trumpsters. If they vote to keep the government shut down, they lose other voters. So not voting at all is the safest course.

[SunSeeker]

20. He's protecting Trump.

He knows if they had to choose, there's a good chance a veto proof majority would vote to reopen, to save themselves with the majority of the voters who blame Trump for the shutdown.

[onenote]

26. Seriously. There is no chance that a veto proof majority would vote to open the government

Name names. Which 20 of the 53 Republican Senators do you think would vote to override a Trump veto of a bill funding the government?

[totodeinhere]

22. The situation was different then. It's one thing to support the original bill but it's quite another

to vote to override Trump's veto. They won't do it.

[SunSeeker]

24. So they're all willing to risk their careers for Trump? I don't think so.

Some might, but I think there is a veto-proof majority who will vote the way the majority of their constituents want them to vote (reopen government).

[onenote]

33. So why don't they vote to replace Mitch?

Maybe because they actually are happy that he's doing what he's doing (and not doing).

[SunSeeker]

34. They're not going to move to replace him over this.

He earned his keep with the GOP forever by blocking Merrick Garland.

[forgotmylogin]

7. McConnell is abdicating the power of the Senate.

He is taking power he should not have. Impeach McConnell.

[onenote]

14. Senators can't be impeached.

[totodeinhere]

23. Correct, but they can be expelled by the Senate.

That's what we should be advocating. Expel the bastard. It would take 51 votes. Very unlikely to happen but at least it's theoretically possible.

[onenote]

25. No. It takes 2/3 vote. So it's not happening.

[forgotmylogin]

30. So they can just be arrested like any citizen?

Send the squad car!

[onenote]

32. yes. sort of.

The Constitution's speech or debate clause provides that members of Congress "shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their attendance at the Session of their Respective Houses, and in going to and from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place."

So i guess it would depend what crimes you think members of Congress have committed. If you think that they committed a crime by not voting to open the government, or to take other actions vis-a-vis Trump, then no, they can't be arrested.

[DeminPennswoods]

8. O'Donnell just did a segment on this

He suggested this is ultimately the way McConnell can keep his hands clean by not objecting or allowing his caucus to provide enough votes to reach 60 and override an objection, then vote to approve the bills the House has sent over.

[Scruffy1]

10. I think the 327 votes are there in the house.

The question is how do you get to 67 in the Senate? We stll have 42 Senators kissing Trumps ass. I think we need another smoking gun story to scare them into submission. McConnell is 26% underwater in his own state and I don't think he'll run again so he doesn't care. Most of these "Senators" are from deep red states and don't care about anything but a primary challenge and that usually comes from the right not the left. I fear we may be stuck with it until both Pence and Trump are gone. I'm sure some Congressional committees are burning the midnight oil right now to light a fire under Trumps ass with some new criminal charges.

[onenote]

15. It's only 290 in the House and the votes aren't close to being there

There's not a chance in hell that 55 Republicans would go up against a Trump veto.

[rickyhall]

9. I'm sorry. I only meant what said for Graham, I can't stand him.

[NYC Liberal]

11. McConnell is full of it. Congress can pass legislation

without the president. It’s called a veto override and it’s in the constitution.

[TryLogic]

17. McConnell and how many other Republicans are Russian assets???

FOX News acts like a Russian asset also.

[3catwoman3]

12. I'd like to block...

...his windpipe.

[AlexSFCA]

28. he has absolutely no desire to reopen the government

prepare for months of continued shutdown and I think all of us will feel it when fed workers miss their 2nd paycheck.

[McCamy Taylor]

29. What does Russia have on McConnell?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

31. Or what does China have on Chao?

I think there is much money there.