The Huffington Post doesn’t seem too happy about it, so you should be. Senator Judd Gregg (R-SC) has penned a manual on how to block health care, and distributed it to his republican colleagues.
Insisting that it is “critical that Republican senators have a solid understanding of the minority’s rights in the Senate,” Gregg makes note of all the procedural tools the GOP can use before measures are considered, when they come to the floor and even after passage.
He highlights the use of hard quorum calls for any motion to proceed, as opposed to a far quicker unanimous consent provision. He reminds his colleagues that, absent unanimous consent, they can force the Majority Leader to read any “full-text substitute amendment.” And when it comes to offering amendments to the health care bill, the New Hampshire Republican argues that it is the personification of “full, complete, and informed debate,” to “offer an unlimited number of amendments — germane or non-germane — on any subject.”
The details of Gregg’s outline are a clear reflection of the extent to which Republicans are turning to the Byzantine processes of the Senate chamber as a means of holding up reform. And doing so with eagerness. Take for instance, the section on offering a “point of order.”
“A Senator may make a point of order at any point he or she believes that a Senate procedure is being violated, with or without cause,” he writes. “After the presiding officer rules, any Senator who disagrees with such ruling may appeal the ruling of the chair–that appeal is fully debatable. Some points of order, such as those raised on Constitutional grounds, are not ruled on by the presiding officer and the question is put to the Senate, then the point of order itself is fully debatable. The Senate may dispose of a point of order or an appeal by tabling it; however, delay is created by the two roll call votes in connection with each tabling motion (motion to table and motion to reconsider that vote).” …
Majority Leader Harry Reid doesn’t like it one bit, saying through his spokesman “”Just in time for the holidays, here it is in black and white, the Republicans’ manual for stall, stop and delay. And what do the American people get? — higher costs and less coverage. What kind of present is that?” Actually, what we get is several trillion less in debt. We also get to avoid the rationing and higher premiums their bill will inflict on us. So I think Senator Gregg is giving the American people a nice Christmas gift.
Now if only his republican colleagues will take his advice.
Full letter from Senator Gregg is below the jump.
gregg –
Via Memeorandum
Senator McCain wants to amend the handbook.
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