CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
– CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS
Oct. 3, 2008 – 2:57 p.m.
Day Brings Sober Pronouncements, Public Conversions and Presidential Phone Tag
By Edward Epstein, CQ Staff
Moments after Rep. Louise M. Slaughter opened the debate on the rule for considering the $700 billion financial bailout, it became apparent that Friday was going to be a different kind of day in Congress.
Rep. David Dreier , R-Calif., usually is a spirited foil to Slaughter, the Rules Committee chairwoman, when the Democratic majority brings forth a closed rule. But this time he rose to say that he wouldn’t object to the rule, which cut the minority out of any amendment opportunity.
“Our choice is very simple: Pass this bill or do nothing,” Dreier said. “On Monday, we saw the consequences of doing nothing,” he added, referring to the House’s defeat of an earlier version of the bailout. “Today we have a second chance.”
For weary House members, passage of the bailout — on the 114th legislative day of 2008 — would mean they could finally head home to campaign for the Nov. 4 election.
An optimistic Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz , D-Pa., was spotted walking into Cannon Building toting her suitcase, prepared to head home if the bill (
At about the time Dreier spoke, many of his House GOP colleagues were in the Cannon Caucus Room for a conference meeting.
Rep. Zach Wamp , R-Tenn., who on Thursday had said he was dropping his opposition to the bill, said the mood was much calmer than on Monday.
He said Minority Leader John A. Boehner and Whip Roy Blunt were more confident this time around that they would provide the needed votes to get a majority.
“They didn’t know that Monday. It was a pig in a poke. The Democrats didn’t know how many they had. They thought they had a lot. We didn’t know how many we didn’t have,” Wamp said.
At about the same time, Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank was holding court for reporters in the Speakers’ Lobby. “This is not a job-creation bill. Frankly, it’s a job-destruction prevention bill,” he said.
A top Democratic leader passing by said he believed at least 10 Democratic opponents from Monday would change sides and that the GOP, which rounded up 65 votes for the bill on Monday, would provide about 80, at least. They exceeded that in the end, providing 91 Republican votes.
For the bill’s most outspoken opponents, it seemed clear they were going to lose. “Come on. $700 billion?” an animated Rep. Steven C. LaTourette , R-Ohio, shouted on the House floor.
The leader of the Republican Study Committee, the caucus of GOP conservatives that has objected to the bailout, sounded resigned but defiant. “Our fight for freedom and opportunity continues,” Rep. Jeb Hensarling , R-Texas, said in a written statement.
Day Brings Sober Pronouncements, Public Conversions and Presidential Phone Tag
Throughout the morning, Democratic leaders choreographed a small parade of members who took turns announcing they were dropping their opposition.
At 11 a.m., two Congressional Black Caucus members from Maryland, Donna Edwards and Elijah E. Cummings , held a news conference to announce their conversion. “Not because it’s perfect, but because I believe we need a new starting point,” Edwards said of her decision. Both said that, like other wavering CBC members, they had phone conversations on Wednesday with Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama . He assured them that if he is elected, he will push for bankruptcy reforms next year to protect homeowners.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, Speaker Nancy Pelosi was on the House floor a few minutes earlier, speaking warmly with Edwards just after the House adopted the closed rule (
At 11:30 a.m., another small cluster of four Democrats held another press conference to say they, too, had switched sides.
On the House floor, more members did the same. “It may be politically damaging,” Rep. Howard Coble , R-N.C., said as he announced his switch. “The political sky may fall on my head but I feel the limited access to credit or no access to capital may affect us all.”
Off the floor, Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, said he had consulted experts, prayed, received calls from President Bush every day this week, except on Friday.
Minority Leader Roy Blunt , R-Mo., said GOP presidential candiadate John McCain had been very active, as well, in calling GOP members to encourage them to support bill.
At around 12:45 p.m., Boehner, R-Ohio, took the floor and went further than any GOP leader has this year in admitting the economy’s woes.
“We’re in the midst of a recession. It will be a rough ride. It will be a whole lot rougher if we don’t pass this bill today,” he told solemn-looking members.
He was followed by Pelosi, D-Calif., who dropped any hint of the partisan rhetoric that on Monday had brought her fire from GOP leaders.
“It’s an important vote,” she said as members gathered in the chamber. “It’s a difficult vote. But we must win it for Mr. and Mrs. Jones on Main Street.”
Pelosi stayed on the floor throughout the vote, surrounded by aides pouring over vote tally sheets.
When the count went over the top, her cell phone rang. It was Bush.
Day Brings Sober Pronouncements, Public Conversions and Presidential Phone Tag
“He called me. I told him we would like a stimulus package,” she said later outside the chamber.
She then walked back onto the House floor, but seconds later did an about-face. She acknowledged to reporters that the conversation with Bush broke a rule against phone use in the House chamber.
“I don’t speak on the floor on the phone except in this case — and future presidents,” she noted.
Aides said that Bush called Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, as well, and tried to call Boehner but the two of them ended up playing phone tag.
The House passed the bill 263-171. When the vote was announced, there was scattered applause, but only from the Democratic side.
Adrianne Kroepsch, Kathleen Hunter, Molly K. Hooper, Jonathan Allen, David Clarke, Colby Itkowitz, Michael Teitelbaum and Liriel Higa contributed to this story.
POST A COMMENT
Oops! The following errors must be addressed: