Dems threaten shutdown if GOP goes nuke... solve it this way
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
From The Washington Times, headline is linked....
Democrats threaten shutdown
By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Democrats yesterday said they will halt all Senate business except essential operations and national defense if Republicans use the "nuclear option" to unclog President Bush's judicial nominees.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada made the threat in a letter yesterday to Majority Leader Bill Frist, who has said he has the 51 votes needed for a parliamentary procedure that would force the nominees through the Senate on a simple majority vote.
"Of course, Democrats would never block legislation vital to our troops or other national security interests, and we will help ensure that critical government services continue to function for the American people," Mr. Reid wrote.
... more at linked article
So the Dems are threatening to shutdown the government, or at least the legislature over the potential use of "the nuclear option" by the GOP as an effort to clear up the judicial log-jam.
Funny, since the Dems themselves have used the nuclear option before (do some research on Senator "KKK" Byrd's tenure as majority leader).
I have a proposed solution though, and that is this: push through the nuclear option and then bring up proposals to raise the minimum wage by $.25 / hour for each and every thing the GOP wants to get passed. As the bills pile up, and then potential for raising the minimum wage by $2 - $4 per hour goes without enactment because of Democratic stalling techniques in the Senate, the GOP will reap gains a plenty.
Yes, it's cynical to raise the minimum wage in these trivial amounts, but over time the Senate could potentially bring the minimum wage up into the $7 range (where it probably belongs), at least through some phasing in of increases that would be included literally with every bill that gets advanced in the Senate.
Let the Democrats sit and look like the obstructionists they are. Even without such efforts to coerce the Democrats into letting business get done, if they truly "shutdown" the Senate as they threaten, they'll harm their own cause that much more as the 2006 elections come rolling up and the public grows tired of watching the Democrats stall and delay.
Ask Tom Daschle how well those delaying tactics worked before this last election while you watch Senator Harry Reid kill his party's chances at regaining any seats in the Senate.
Democrats threaten shutdown
By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Democrats yesterday said they will halt all Senate business except essential operations and national defense if Republicans use the "nuclear option" to unclog President Bush's judicial nominees.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada made the threat in a letter yesterday to Majority Leader Bill Frist, who has said he has the 51 votes needed for a parliamentary procedure that would force the nominees through the Senate on a simple majority vote.
"Of course, Democrats would never block legislation vital to our troops or other national security interests, and we will help ensure that critical government services continue to function for the American people," Mr. Reid wrote.
... more at linked article
So the Dems are threatening to shutdown the government, or at least the legislature over the potential use of "the nuclear option" by the GOP as an effort to clear up the judicial log-jam.
Funny, since the Dems themselves have used the nuclear option before (do some research on Senator "KKK" Byrd's tenure as majority leader).
I have a proposed solution though, and that is this: push through the nuclear option and then bring up proposals to raise the minimum wage by $.25 / hour for each and every thing the GOP wants to get passed. As the bills pile up, and then potential for raising the minimum wage by $2 - $4 per hour goes without enactment because of Democratic stalling techniques in the Senate, the GOP will reap gains a plenty.
Yes, it's cynical to raise the minimum wage in these trivial amounts, but over time the Senate could potentially bring the minimum wage up into the $7 range (where it probably belongs), at least through some phasing in of increases that would be included literally with every bill that gets advanced in the Senate.
Let the Democrats sit and look like the obstructionists they are. Even without such efforts to coerce the Democrats into letting business get done, if they truly "shutdown" the Senate as they threaten, they'll harm their own cause that much more as the 2006 elections come rolling up and the public grows tired of watching the Democrats stall and delay.
Ask Tom Daschle how well those delaying tactics worked before this last election while you watch Senator Harry Reid kill his party's chances at regaining any seats in the Senate.
PolMach Forums