Smart Politics...
...can translate into smart policy.
Now here's a breath of fresh air: political maneuvering to pass important legislation. The legislation involved was the Voting Rights Act, portions of which expire shortly. From the Washington Post:
The House yesterday easily approved an extension of key provisions of the landmark Voting Rights Act, after GOP leaders quelled a rebellion within the party's Southern ranks that threatened to become a political embarrassment.
Before the 390 to 33 vote to extend the measure for a quarter-century, the House defeated four amendments that would have diluted two expiring provisions and possibly derailed final passage before the November congressional elections. With the House hurdle now cleared, Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said he hoped to bring the extension to the Senate floor before the August recess.
"Today, Republicans and Democrats have united in a historic vote to preserve and protect one of America's most important fundamental rights -- the right to vote," said House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
Yesterday's votes put a dent in Hastert's principle of moving major legislation only with a "majority of the majority" -- that is, with most of the chamber's 231 Republicans supporting it. Overwhelming Democratic support was crucial to defeating three of the potentially killer amendments introduced by dissident Republicans and opposed by Hastert. [Emphasis added]
The Democrats could easily have refused to cooperate with Speaker Hastert in the process, leaving the Republicans with a highly embarrassing result leading up to the elections, but chose instead to assist him in beating down the ridiculous proposals of some Southern Republicans who were clearly grandstanding for their home districts. This time, the Democrats did the right thing: the Voting Rights Act is too important a piece of legislation to play partisan politics with.
Besides, those 33 Republicans can now be clearly identified for what they are and what they did. That's enough for me. This time.
Update: Here is the roll call vote on HR 9.
Now here's a breath of fresh air: political maneuvering to pass important legislation. The legislation involved was the Voting Rights Act, portions of which expire shortly. From the Washington Post:
The House yesterday easily approved an extension of key provisions of the landmark Voting Rights Act, after GOP leaders quelled a rebellion within the party's Southern ranks that threatened to become a political embarrassment.
Before the 390 to 33 vote to extend the measure for a quarter-century, the House defeated four amendments that would have diluted two expiring provisions and possibly derailed final passage before the November congressional elections. With the House hurdle now cleared, Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said he hoped to bring the extension to the Senate floor before the August recess.
"Today, Republicans and Democrats have united in a historic vote to preserve and protect one of America's most important fundamental rights -- the right to vote," said House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
Yesterday's votes put a dent in Hastert's principle of moving major legislation only with a "majority of the majority" -- that is, with most of the chamber's 231 Republicans supporting it. Overwhelming Democratic support was crucial to defeating three of the potentially killer amendments introduced by dissident Republicans and opposed by Hastert. [Emphasis added]
The Democrats could easily have refused to cooperate with Speaker Hastert in the process, leaving the Republicans with a highly embarrassing result leading up to the elections, but chose instead to assist him in beating down the ridiculous proposals of some Southern Republicans who were clearly grandstanding for their home districts. This time, the Democrats did the right thing: the Voting Rights Act is too important a piece of legislation to play partisan politics with.
Besides, those 33 Republicans can now be clearly identified for what they are and what they did. That's enough for me. This time.
Update: Here is the roll call vote on HR 9.
posted by Diane at 4:17 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home