While the Congress is done with legislative business until after the November elections, the House and Senate must still convene for pro forma sessions over the next six weeks - and Democrats took advantage of that on the House floor on Tuesday.
The tactic is nothing new from either party, as the goal is to put the party in charge of the House on the defensive at a time when they aren't expecting it.
That was the case on Tuesday when the House convened for a short session to fulfill the requirement in the Constitution that neither House can go more than three days between meetings without the consent of the other.
That's Article I, Section 5, if you are scoring at home.
Becuase no "adjournment resolution" was approved when the Congress left town last weekend, that means the House and Senate must meet every three business days - and Democrats were ready when the House came in for a pro forma meeting.
"Mister Speaker, parliamentary inquiry," said Rep. Donna Edwards, a Maryland Democrat who drew the assignment to keep Republicans on their toes.
"Mister Speaker should it not be possible to consider legislation and to complete work on behalf of the American people, including middle class tax cuts," Edwards began, asking permission to bring up Democratic jobs bills on the floor - even though there were only two members on the floor.
"Democrats are committed to return to Washington to continue the work of the people," said Edwards, who went on for 90 seconds before getting the parliamentary back of the hand from the GOP.
"Sadly, the gentlelady has not stated a parliamentary inquiry," said Rep. Stephen LaTourette (R-OH), who recently decided against a re-election bid, arguing there is too much partisanship in the Congress these days.
LaTourette then cut off Edwards before she could say anything else; Democrats followed it up later in the day with a series of news releases denouncing the GOP.
The move came a day after House Democratic Leaders sent their rank and file a letter urging them to blast the GOP over the next six weeks, trying to blame Republicans for the lack of progress on major issues - all while the GOP tries to pin the blame on the Democrats.
Here is the House Democratic letter:
Dear Democratic Colleagues:
On September 21st, the House concluded the last day of the legislative session until November – marking the earliest recess of Congress since 1960 – over the objections of our Caucus. After being in session for just eight days, House Republicans left town for 7 weeks of recess and left important work unfinished. Throughout this Congress, House Republicans have chosen to pursue their ideological agenda, instead of working with Democrats to address pressing issues of concern to middle-class families.
After twenty months in the Majority, House Republicans have not brought a comprehensive jobs bill to the Floor. They again left town without preventing taxes from going up on millions of middle-class families and small businesses next year. Bills that have passed the Senate with bipartisan support, but have been met with inaction on this side of the Capitol, include the farm bill, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, and postal reform.
House Republicans have also failed to take serious action to prevent our nation from going over the fiscal cliff in January, when taxes are set to go up, unemployment insurance and the Medicare physician payment rate are set to expire, and the arbitrary, dangerous cuts of sequestration are scheduled to go into effect.
Even as Republicans have failed to act on these critical issues, they have wasted time on political messaging bills, voting six times for a budget that would end the Medicare guarantee, and voting 33 times to repeal health care reform and the consumer protections and benefits it brings.
Meanwhile, Democrats have continued to push for sensible solutions that will create jobs, reduce deficits, and create opportunities for more of our people to "Make It In America." Democrats are committed to reigniting the American dream, building ladders of opportunity for anyone willing to work hard, take responsibility, and play by the rules. We must strengthen the pillars that have always made our economy succeed: small businesses, entrepreneurs, and a thriving middle class. And we have work to do.
When Democrats controlled Congress and President Bush served in the White House, we worked on a bipartisan basis to prevent our nation from plunging into a Great Depression. When we were in the majority during President Obama's first two terms, we produced what one nonpartisan observer has called "one of the most productive Congresses" since the New Deal. But under Republican control, this Congress has obstructed progress, has fallen to historic lows in public approval, and has earned the title of being the least productive in modern history.
This is the choice we must now present to the American people.
As we meet with constituents this Fall, this is the message we will be carrying from Washington – that the Republican record of inaction for the middle class is the wrong direction for America and that Democrats are ready to lead with real solutions. And that Republicans have refused to take up the issues confronting America's middle class and seniors, but have made plenty of time over the past two years to pick millionaires over Medicare and the middle class. We hope you will join us in making this case in each of your districts. To help you, we have provided your offices with materials about the record of the Do Nothing Republicans, as well as information on Democrats' Make It In America plan for middle-class jobs.
If we can get this message out to our constituents, we can begin to put Congress back on the right track to achieve the solutions the American people expect and deserve.
Thank you for your leadership.
Sincerely,
NANCY PELOSI
Democratic Leader
STENY HOYER
Democratic Whip
While the Congress is done with legislative business until after the November elections, the House and Senate must still convene for pro forma sessions over the next six weeks - and Democrats took advantage of that on the House floor on Tuesday. The tactic is nothing new from either party, ...
