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The four minutes of debate on NRCC Chair Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Rep. Mike Fitzptrick's (R-PA) "Oath Oops" were led by a spirited Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Rules Chairman David Dreier (R-CA)
Weiner contended that the resolution was not in compliance with the GOP's own rules because it was not posted for three days for members and the public to peruse. One GOP aide said the three-day rule doesn't apply to this resolution, because "it deals with internal House business."
Weiner took it a step further by saying even the resolution acknowledges that the House "violated the Constitution" on the very first day because two people who were not Members of Congress took votes.
Dreier said in his brief remarks, "Any member that does not vote in favor of this resolution is allowing the problem to persist."
The resolution passed on a vote of 257-159 with Sessions, Fitzpatrick and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) voting present. A few moderate Democrats like Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) and Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) voted in favor of the resolution.
With the passage of the resolution, Oath-gate is resolved. What doesn't seem to be resolved though is the nature of the event both members were at when they missed the oath on the floor.
Fitzpatrick's office said the event "was not a fundraiser, it was a reception for folks who traveled to DC to watch the swearing-in." But an invitation for the event appears to solicit donations and the Sunlight Foundation is now asking questions about the nature of the event and whether Fitzpatrick broke House Ethics rules on the first day of Congress.
But if he technically wasn't a member when the event was happening, it's unclear if the Ethics Committee has any jurisdiction.
Leave a Comment:
Rep. Sessions-
Not Sworn In????
Did you not hear the cry for priority #1 in the November Vote??
Do your job and show up!
What a waste of time and money, as you chase fund raising for yourself or your friend!
What a foolish act of disrespect!
You talk urgency, yet you do not act with urgency, your lack of responsibility and improper missing proper actions TO SHOW UP, I would expect from Obama, not one of the main conservative leaders of the Congress.
What arrogance, that is what we voted out in November.
Sorry you did not get the memo, or you just do not get it.
Your former employer AT&T/ Southwestern Bell would never have tolerated such an act, you were trained better.
Rep. Henserling and Rep. DeMint never would have pulled such a stunt. If you are going to run with the big dogs, act like one.
Your arrogant and selfish behavior is not the new program that started on the first day of this new Congress and you were AWOL, and not excusable!
Stop embarrassing us as a party, as a state, and as a district. I have voted for you every time, since I came back to Dallas in 1996.
You have enraged and rained on the excitement of our new day!
I wish I knew how to write a stronger complaint!
PeteLostPriority
Pete (funny screen name, btw), I think that each party has lost their ever lovin' mind. I think Sessions has to have two seats in Congress. One for him, and one for the cajones he has. The first day of a Congressional session in which one side took a beating for "losing touch" with their constituents and he pulls this?
Rep. Sessions-
Not Sworn In????
Did you not hear the cry for priority #1 in the November Vote??
Do your job and show up!
What a waste of time and money, as you chase fund raising for yourself or your friend!
What a foolish act of disrespect!
You talk urgency, yet you do not act with urgency, your lack of responsibility and improper missing proper actions TO SHOW UP, I would expect from Obama, not one of the main conservative leaders of the Congress.
What arrogance, that is what we voted out in November.
Sorry you did not get the memo, or you just do not get it.
Your former employer AT&T/ Southwestern Bell would never have tolerated such an act, you were trained better.
Rep. Henserling and Rep. DeMint never would have pulled such a stunt. If you are going to run with the big dogs, act like one.
Your arrogant and selfish behavior is not the new program that started on the first day of this new Congress and you were AWOL, and not excusable!
Stop embarrassing us as a party, as a state, and as a district. I have voted for you every time, since I came back to Dallas in 1996.
You have enraged and rained on the excitement of our new day!
I wish I knew how to write a stronger complaint!
PeteLostPriority
See There what did I tell you’ll yesterday about all them oaths and fueds we were going to see made and broken this year. Shucks I’m going to start thinking Ive got Jean Dixon in my ancestry.
Well I’m fixin’ to slide on out of here and down to the Dew Drop Inn to see if they repaired and swept up all the residue from New Year’s.
Let’s see Drive-by I think the requests for the Juke box tonight is “Bring on the Clowns” both the George Jones and Judy Collins versions and a little of old Smokey’s “Tears of a Clown” for the Motown crowd. Think we can fix ‘em up? Hope there’s some extra copies around cause I have a feeling that with our new Speaker it’s not going to be long before all the grooves are going to be wore out of those old standards.
As always my thanks and appreciation to our hosts for giving me a little patch to stand on, a forum to put it in and their indulgence when I don’t quite get it right or get a little off-topic. I purely do appreciate it.
To my fellow Posters take care and keep the faith. You’ll are the best and amongst all of us I know we’re going to make it. Ain’t going to be easy but it can be done. Heck if it was easy anybody could do it right? See you’ll next week
Barkeep set up a round for me and my friends and somebody throw a quarter in the Music Machine ‘cause I’m about wore out this week and I’m coming in on a wing and a prayer.
IR- see if you can find 'There's a tear in my Beer', too, for our new orange buddy from the Buckeye.
Thanks to you and everyone else, too, for sharing on the 'show and tell' session yesterday brought to you by that old buzzard, 'Buzz'. It was fun and informative.
How about "Cry Me a River" for our new Weeper of the House!
FR: But if he technically wasn't a member when the event was happening, it's unclear if the Ethics Committee has any jurisdiction
One that is clear for sure, the Republicans are a bunch of liars.
Independent Redneck Va.
I'm looking forward to some more down home stories about the repuli-clowns. In between time I'll met you at the Dew Drop Inn.
Hey, IR - Since Elise beat me to the punch with "Cry me A River", can I put in a request for Lesley Gore's "It's My Party And I'll Cry If I Want To"?
New republican motto for the House. If we do not like the rules we will just change them.
you mean like Pelosi
@goliph - Exsqueeze me?
I'm sorry, but didn't the Republicans campaign specifically that it was time to do things differently in Congress? Time to follow the rules?
Sigh. Just another case of arrogance by the majority party. Different band, same tune.
We shouldn't be surprised that a member of the leadership was involved in a questionable fundraising effort on the first day of the congressional session. After all, the head of said leadership was caught distributing tobacco lobby bribes...errr, campaign contributions on the floor of the house.
Hey, IR: You WERE right, and it didn't take you long, did it? What oh what have we learned this week? The manufacturers of facial tissues will be handing out bonuses to employees, now that Boehner is temporarily Speaker. They should make plenty of money, and we will get to watch him burst into tears for no discernible reason. It did not take the Republicans long to shred any appearance of doing the People's business. This bunch is all about how to make their Corporate masters richer, and get a piece of the pie, large slice please, they ARE hungry, for themselves. It is fascinating that though they scream about transparency, they very quickly refused to disclose that they are on government health care, better than most Americans have, even as they try to remove HCR for those who voted to put them into office. Should be good fun watching the "teabaggers" slowly and inexorably ( it does take this crowd awhile) realize that they have put the fox in the hen house and the carnage is sure to follow. IR: you may need to come and get me with the John Deere, stormy here, and I want to be at the Dew Drop Inn for our toasts to our good friend Clara, and her recovery! I'll stay in the back room tonight...Feisty, what's the drink du jour? See you all there. My thanks to my hosts for another interesting week on First Read.
They should make a comedy show about Congress, wouldn't need any writers, the clowns in Congress come up with new comedy worthy material on an hourly basis, what a total waste and travisty.
w bush
They should make a comedy show about Congress, wouldn't need any writers, the clowns in Congress come up with new comedy worthy material on an hourly basis, what a total waste and travisty.
You just made me burst out in laughter.
Thanks
Pretty smooth move for a Republican,,,,,,,,,,Violate house ethics by attending an illegal fundraiser where you do a fake oath,,,,,,,,,Then when the ethics committee convenes you can claim you were not even a member when you did it and therefore not subject to the rules.
Gotta love em don'tcha?? Hahahaha
Republicans want to waste time, so their off to a good start. Repeal this repeal that, ignore the fact's, they say but we say and "The American People" Riff, give me a break!