Portman-Cardin Ways & Means Mark Up

[MGB]

Democrats Flee Pension Markup and Thomas Calls the Constabularies

By Siobhan Hughes and Liriel Higa, CQ Staff

Capitol Hill police were called Friday morning to a Ways and Means

Committee markup after Democrats stormed out and locked themselves in a

nearby library room to protest the GOP's handling of a pension bill. Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, R-Calif., called the police and ordered

them to remove the Democrats from a Ways and Means library located

behind the hearing room in 1100 Longworth, according to a Democratic

staff aide. The Democrats were still encamped there this morning.

Democrats said they were furious that Thomas had unveiled his draft of

the Portman-Cardin bill (HR 1776) shortly after midnight, leaving them

little time to analyze its contents. The bill would revise pension

accounting rules and expand individual retirement savings options.

In a procedural protest, Democrats demanded that the entire bill be

read aloud, and then left the room. After all Democrats except a stunned Pete Stark of California had

departed, Thomas ordered an end to the reading of the bill, and passed

it on a voice vote.

Before leading the walkout, Charles B. Rangel of New York, the top

Democrat on the committee, fumed, "To do this to us is really just

totally disrespectful."

Thomas boasted, "In the House, the minority can delay, they cannot

deny."

(The substitute bill that was passed is at:

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/legis.asp?fo...item&number=100

[R. Butler]

I could have told Chuck Rangel that that stradegy wouldn't work. I used to do that when I was little; if Mom & Dad didn't give me my way I would lock myself in my room. I never got my way, as matter of fact I got whipped for trying it.

[E as in ERISA]

When I first read this article, I thought that it was done in satire.....

[mbozek]

Does anyone believe that this legislation would be considered by the Senate in its present form?

[mwyatt]

Are you sure that cite wasn't from the Onion?

[AndyH]

This was mentioned by Tim Russert on Meet the Press yesterday.

[MGB]

The story above is exactly what happened (no embellishment or humor whatsoever - life in Washington, DC is too weird to need any Onion-style addition; note the byline of CQ is the "Congressional Quarterly"). What is not described in this story is what Pete Stark from California did. He was the only Democrat that did not go to the library. The bill was being read, which should have given the Democrats quite awhile to strategize and come back. However, as soon as they were gone, a Republican asked to stop the reading (which they can do unless there is an objection). Stark objected, but Thomas claimed he had moved his gavel before the objection. Stark blew up and and began yelling about Thomas undermining the process.

(Edited version from the official record:) Scott McInnis (R-Col.) told him to shut up and quit whining. Stark yelled back "You think you are big enough to make me, you little wimp? Come on. Come over here and make me. I dare you. You little fruitcake. You little fruitcake. I said you are a fruitcake!" Stark later told reporters the official record is not complete. He says he also called Thomas a fascist.

Now Thomas claims that the calling of the police was because he thought Stark was creating a physical threat. Although the police never confronted Stark, they instead went right to the Democratic group in the library. The police immediately left claiming there was nothing for them to do.

Currently, the Democratic leadership is trying to get the passage of the bill rescinded, so that a proper markup session can happen in Ways and Means. If that doesn't happen, the full House could vote on it as soon as this week. However, the Senate leadership has stated emphatically that they will not have any floor time for debating a pension bill this year. I expect that one or more provisions (e.g., 30-yr. Treasury yield replacement) get attached to other bills later this year. The full Portman-Cardin bill may or may not get full attention next year.

[WDIK]

Our tax dollars at work!

[mbozek]

The bill is dead in the Senate because it carries a revenue loss of 50B by accelerating the increased deductions for IRAs and salary reduction plans to 5k and 15k respectively.