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Subscribe to RSSThe AP’s Espo: “Moments after grasping an oversized gavel that symbolizes his authority, Boehner implored the assembly of newcomers and veterans in the 113th Congress to tackle the nation’s heavy burden of debt at long last. ‘We have to be willing — truly willing — to make this right.’ Also on the two-year agenda is the first significant effort at an overhaul of the tax code in more than a quarter century. Republicans and Democrats alike say they want to chop at a thicket of existing tax breaks and use the resulting revenue to reduce rates.”
But first, Sandy funding is on the docket today. “A $9.7 billion measure to pay flood insurance claims is set for a vote in Congress, boosting prospects for relief for the many home and business owners flooded out by Superstorm Sandy,” AP writes, adding, “The Federal Emergency Management Agency warns that the National Flood Insurance Program will run out of money next week if Congress doesn’t provide additional borrowing authority to pay out claims.” More: “About 140,000 Sandy-related flood insurance claims have been filed, FEMA officials said, and most have yet to be closed out. Many flood victims have only received partial payments on their claims.”
What that means in real life: “Philip Rock has received $8,000 in flood insurance payments so far but said he is awaiting a statement on the final amount, which he expects to be much more. A house he owns in Toms River, N.J., had a $220,000 flood insurance policy. The house, which he rents out, was destroyed, and he needs to know the final payout before he can demolish it. The house is a ‘total loss,’ Rock said. ‘We don’t want to demolish the house and have them say, ‘We have to go around and take more pictures.'”
Bloomberg called the defections from Boehner “symbolic protests.”
The Hill sees a “failed coup.” Walter Jones pointed the finger at Justin Amash as the coup leader. They both voted against Boehner and said they thought they had as many as 20 votes.
Roll Call sees it as “party drama.”
Politico points at Tim Huelskamp as another organizer.
“Supporters of tighter federal gun restrictions moved quickly Thursday, the first day of the new Congress, introducing bills in the wake of last month's deadly mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., that will set up a long and contentious fight over the shape of the nation's gun laws,” USA Today notes, adding, “The bill would ban high-capacity ammunition magazines.”
Check out this quote from freshman Ted Yoho, quoted by National Journal (h/t Political Wire): "Intimidating is going up to a growling Rottweiler and having to squeeze his anal glands, or going up to a stallion that weighs 1,200 pounds and telling him you're going to take his testicles off. That's intimidating. I think I can handle Congress."
It was vintage Joe being Joe in the swearing in of members yesterday. The Hill has video.
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Front page photo of today's Portland Press Herald showed Joe Biden hugging Angus King's wife, as all three were cracking up in laughter. Looks like Joe Biden has a great time greeting families of incoming Congresspeople.
Maine elected an Independent Senator to replace retiring Republican Olympia Snowe (the subject of an uncoming special on local TV called "Olympia Snowe: Undefeated.") Snowe has been speaking out on the disfunction in Congress that lead her to retire at the top of her popularity with voters, after decades of public service. I wish more states would find their Angus Kings: politicans who are pragmatic, Independent and open to compromise. This current partisanship is hurting America and disgusting and discouraging all of us.
Amy, as a disclaimer I am a lefty liberal, and damn proud of it. It is extremely difficult to negotiate any kind of law with a party that has only a posistion which is no. If it wasn't for the American people and the pressure put on the republicans in congress there would have been no compromise on the fiscal cliff. They would have stuck to their Grover pledge which seems to me is the problem. The left represent the people, the right represents Grover Norquist. While I will vote democrat for this reason, I remember a time when a republican could be trusted to do the right thing. That time has passed and until the pendulum swings back it is going to separate this country into two parties, with really no room for an independent.
Problem John is
The definition of "right thing" has changed and has become the liberal progressive point of view only. As your fellow lefties like to call what the republicans used to stand for on the vine, "regression". They are too blind to see that moving too fast in any direction is fraught with unforeseen circumstances. They want it all and they want it now. It isn't being progressive but rather shooting from the hip and leaping over common sense and reason to achieve a perceived utopian goal. The next couple of years will show that the liberal/progressive path is one that will have to be backtracked on to achieve a sense of order and controlled growth.
Well, the older I get, the more liberal I become, which is not how it's supposed to work, but today's Republican Party is unrecognizable from the Party my Dad voted for (he was an early Susan Collins supporter, I don't vote even for her these days. It's too dangerous to support any Republican.)
The Republicans don't even look like patriots to me. The fact they would risk sending our economy back into a recession, for what?, is appalling to me. I can't figure out who they represent, it isn't the middle class or even small businesses, it seems they represent psychopathic wing nuts and shadowy billionaires.
Amy, You can see what you say is true just reading Talks post. As Feisty would say, bat @!$%# crazy is the best you could describe them. Amy, I did the same thing, started out as a family republican but seen the light about the time of Nixon and no it wasn't Watergate that changed my mind about republicans and their agenda. As matter of fact both my parents voted for democrats. I think it was about the time of Bill Clinton when they changed.
Actually talk for all your ignorance, the so called liberal left has moved to center and the right, such as your self has moved toward the far right enough to be called fascist. The right is wrong, it is wrong to not tax those that can afford it most more, and those people that are struggling due to the greed of those that have the most to pay less. Call it income redistribution if you want, but since Reagan the party of no has moved off its rocker and is no longer the republican party that I voted for back in the 70's.
Johntho & Amy: As a moderate it is only fair to say that the GOP of my fathers' time no longer exist. The Democratic party is quite moderate. A wonderful example is our president.
In my opinion the liberals are like the mom who says yes to anything the kids want, and the conservitaves are the dad that has to step in and be the "bad guy". Without the dad stepping in the household would be broke, the house foreclosed and the family out in the street. Even though the kids and the mom see the dad as the big jerk who doesn't let them have everything they want, deep down they know he is doing "the right thing".
The GOP is like the dad that beats his kids, tells them not to do things then goes off and does worse. Preaches about vices while getting picked up for drunk driving, preaches family values then runs off with one of his mistresses.
Nailed it Mikeinoregon.
I don't know what kind of a Dad you had, but mine was a WWII vet who wanted his kids to go to college, paid his taxes without making a federal case out of it, and wasn't interested in other people's sex lives.
In other words, not one of today's unpatriotic, right-wing zealots.
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss
Did you see ol' cryin' Johnny? Tears welling up from his eyes. Talk about emotional, good grief.
Amy, my dad was much like yours. May he rest in peace.