When many citizens are doing their best to find any work at all, Republicans in Congress are demanding that they only work until 2 p.m., all because those pesky Democrats passed a health-care reform bill. Just by objecting to the routine unanimous consent agreements that keep the Senate running, the GOP has prevented any and all committee meetings that occur after 2 p.m. That'll show 'em! Says Majority Leader Harry Reid's spox, Jim Manley:
Senator McCain's promised obstruction comes to reality just a day later. ‘The Party of No' wouldn't even agree to let Senate committees meet today. Ironically, as they make false claims about transparency regarding health reform, they're shutting down a committee hearing today on transparency in government.
The bottom line is that as millions of Americans are learning about the immediate benefits of health reform, Republicans are throwing a temper tantrum and grinding important Senate business to a halt.
Interesting that they're singling out McCain's promise to stop cooperation on everything; clearly, Democratic operatives have decided that he's the best symbol of obstruction movement, at least if you're attacking it. I'm just glad someone is finally answering my long-ignored demand to keep those government hands out of my congressional committee hearings.
-- Tim Fernholz
