CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
Jan. 29, 2009 – 6:05 a.m.
Cantor Scores Perfect on Stimulus Test
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
The man newly responsible for keeping House GOP votes in line didn’t lose a single Republican Wednesday in the first major test of President Barack Obama ’s promise to build bipartisan coalitions.
Republicans say objections to the substance of the $819 billion stimulus bill — and to the process used by House Democrats to write it — laid the groundwork for the shutout pitched by Rep. Eric Cantor .
The stimulus bill passed, 244-188, with 11 Democrats and 177 Republicans opposed.
“It’s hard to argue with the results,” said Rep. Todd Tiahrt , a Kansas Republican who was once a rival of Cantor’s within GOP circles. “Our Republican leadership did a good job of informing folks of what was in the bill.”
First elected in 2000, Cantor was brought into the Republican leadership tent as a chief deputy to then-Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri in his second term.
He proved himself a capable vote-counter and stellar fundraiser as he studied under Blunt and Tom DeLay, a Texas representative who retired in 2006 after fashioning a reputation as the most effective whip in recent history.
Cantor’s colleagues voted to elevate him to whip when Blunt stepped aside following a devastating 2008 election for Republicans.
In the days and hours before Wednesday’s vote, Cantor and other leaders told rank-and-file members that too little of the spending in the bill would have a quick stimulative effect and that they should protest House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’s decision to write the bill with negligible Republican input.
“The big issue is that the stimulus bill is not a stimulus bill,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart , R-Fla., said.
Cantor declined to discuss Republican unity in the personal terms of a whip who got every GOP member who voted to vote his way.
He noted that the House vote is the first act in a long play, and said Republicans still want to have a stronger hand in shaping the final legislation, which will be written by a House-Senate conference committee, than they were allowed by Pelosi, D-Calif.
“Right now the onus is on Speaker Pelosi,” he said.
Cantor was willing to talk about another Pyrrhic victory: a Republican substitute amendment got votes from two Democrats, Walt Minnick of Idaho and Travis W. Childers of Mississippi.
“You could say there was more bipartisan support for our vision,” he said.
Of course, he lost nine Republicans on that one.
Still, Diaz-Balart credited Cantor for helping draft the amendment, which was offered by Rep. Dave Camp , R-Mich., and giving Republicans something for which they could vote.
“I think Eric did a great job of coming up with alternatives,” Diaz-Balart said.
Punishment Later?
Democrats say Republican defiance of the popular new president will bring punishment at the polls in 2008.
“In turning their backs on the American people during a time of historic economic crisis to score cheap political points, Republicans in the House at worst may have committed political suicide and best proved their irrelevance to the process,” Brad Woodhouse, president of the liberal Americans United for Change said in an e-mail release (his subject line: “political suicide.”)
Pelosi did not mention Republicans in her statement on the bill’s passage.
But Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen , the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, emphasized elements of the bill he worked on with Republicans Zach Wamp of Tennessee and Todd Platts of Pennsylvania, as well as the prospects for adding Republican support in the Senate and in the final version of the bill.
“This is just one step in an ongoing process to jumpstart our economy,” Van Hollen said. “I look forward to the Senate taking action and continuing to work with the administration and my Republican colleagues to immediately address this crisis.”
The different tones struck in various Democratic quarters underscore the difficulty the majority party in Congress is having as it tries to balance passing its priorities with Obama’s call for bipartisanship.
The Obama administration put on a full-court press for Republican votes that included a high-profile trip to Capitol Hill by Obama on Tuesday and a private meeting his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, had with about a dozen Republicans at the White House later the same day.
Cola and chocolate-chip cookies served in a West Wing office may have sweetened the relationship between Emanuel and members of the moderate Tuesday Group, but they didn’t produce votes.
Cantor says Pelosi holds the key to Republican support: “She’s got to open the doors.”
Comments
Finally a sign of strength from the Republicans...may be a good sign for 2010 election cycle. One thing is for sure every GOP member should contribute to Harry Reid's opponent in Neveda. He is the number one priority for ousting. A do-nothing senator for sure.
If Cantor succeeded, then Congress failed. The Republicans got played like a fiddle, and Cantor was the bow Obama used, tweaking their arrogant insider mentallity with his visits and cocktail parties. Now, as the public wakes up to the fact the Republicans are working against their will, one day at a time their demise is accomplished. When the Palin faction finally splits off to support their ice queen, Cantor's goiong to regret ever working so hard to divide our nation, b ecause it will result in a fatal and final public disenchantment that will take the future away. Now you can expect a non-apologetic majority to shrug and shake their heads when the Republicans fade from power, and you will hear this refrain replayed many times. "Obama tried!" Obama tried to reach out and create a non-partisan spirit in Congress. He made every attempt to work with the Republicans, but they decided to play the politics of bitter minority, instead of making laws for the sake of our whole nation. Anyone who thinks Cantor won, or even accomplished anything beneficial for his dying party in this debacle, is playing with a bad deck. All their face-cards are Jokers.
The Republicans in Congress opposed their own Republican President when it came to a stimulus package, and they appose our new Democratic President. Maybe they haven't received the memo, but we're hurting out here. Drop the opposition, come up with a solution and get on with business.
"Democrats say Republican defiance of the popular new president will bring punishment at the polls in 2008" Don't you mean 2010? Don't count on it. 2010 is starting to look a lot more like '66, '78, and '94 than 2002. The only question will be the size of the GOP gain in the House.
You have to admire Cantor's spunk and ability. He got the GOP to vote against wasteful government spending for putting people back to work during a recession. That way the GOP can keep up their support for worthwhile things like the Iraq War.
that will cost him....There is already a move to publish the job losses STATE BY STATE...Voters will see the repubs for what they are..EGOIST OBSTRUCTIONISTS THAT GOT US INTO THIS MESS AND CARE NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE>>> They are so like b&h clinton ---out for themselves only!!!!
Seems the obstructionist Republicans are keeping their train on track to destroy America. It is a sign that the Republicans have "Party over Country", a tactic that worked so well in the last Administration. Hopefully America has realized that we can no longer afford serving the needs of the 2% at the expense of the Middle Class. Under the leadership of Rush Limbaugh, we can expect further marginalization of a once respected Party. Moderate Republicans are no longer "welcome" in this new drive to have America "fail" to gain political power. We all lose when the politics of "Party over Country" drives decision making.
I can't help being amused (?) by Cantor's gall in demanding more legislative input from the minority Republicans when the Republican-controlled House put the Democratic minority into a deep freeze and left them there. A better beginning gambit would be to acknowledge the GOP sins of the past and then put out the suggestion for more bipartisan participation.
What overwhelmingly intelligent and unemotional arguments you lefties have. If you don't support a massive expansion of government and the taking on of a debt we cannot afford, you hate America and want people to suffer! Same old playbook, I see.
If you think things are bad now, wait until two years from now. What the government needs to do is: Quit borrowing. This only makes things worse. As the banks close forgive the debt they are holding instead of selling it to other banks for pennies on the dollar. The effects of this will be immediate as people are relieved of their payments. Issue tax cuts and don't borrow to replace the lost revenue. Cut the budget. Stand down and start pulling our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Close unnecessary foreign military bases, reopen ones here, and let our soldiers spend their money here instead of there. Start collecting illegal aliens and deporting them. This will provide relief to the states who are supporting them and to our overburdened schools. These things will put two trillion dollars back into the economy quickly without borrowing a dime while reducing the debt that is killing us. http://ewebsmith.com/Finance/economicproblem.html
If only these honorable republicans cared more for our country than they do for their party we might have a chance of digging ourselves out of this mess we're in. Unless and until our congress works for the whole of America we are are not going to suceed. It seems that no amount of money is too much if it's spent supporting the wars but our current situation calls for the stimulus package to be supported by dems and reps alike. We aren't the ememy. We need your help.
It's SO old news to hear the dems projecting the GOP will fade into the woodwork..HARDLY. The control factor always comes in cycles. I find it alot more amusing that the arrogant leaders (Pelosi, Reid, etc...) THINK America loves them...no...America wanted a change, and they got one..for now. America will wake up to what they have voted into office, and already, we see the promise of "change" being obliterated..look at the details of the "stimulus"..it's no "Recovery",,its a dem agenda chalk full off Pork that in no way will help us. I'll take my $12 tax cut Obama promised and maybe I can keep supporting STARBUCKS a couple times a week..they are laying off I hear....Maybe my $12 will keep ONE job at least, because it sure as hell won't help my family. Liberals are just plain narrow minded when it comes to their leadership, always have been, always will be. Change is coming alright...welcome socialism to America. Those who balk at that concept, better run READ the definitions, then look at Obama's proposals for his "policies". Change might in 2010 might just BACKFIRE on them all in 2010. Lots of time to allow Americans to see through the lies of the Democratic party.
What overwhelmingly intelligent and unemotional arguments you lefties have. If you don't support a massive expansion of government and the taking on of a debt we cannot afford, you hate America and want people to suffer! Same old playbook, I see. Correction- it is the GOP conference that cast its votes betting that they would benefit by the President's failure and deeper suffering by the American people.
Will the republicans again set new records blocking bills? We all know it was the democrats were do nothing,they only wrote and brought to the floor bills to vote on,the republicans had the hard part,blocking any work done and of course do you have any idea how hard it is to spin all that into the democrats doing nothing?
If it's a wasteful, Dem treasury raid for their friends and allies vice a true, honest attempt at a very short term stimulus (it's a raid), and expands the power of the Federal Government (it does), it should be fought at every turn. Period. The specter of making public an Obama failure is not the point. Limited gov't = a sustainable society. Socialism = failure and the end of individual rights of any import. Economic freedom is a prerequisite for the pursuit of happiness, and freedom requires all to be responsible for themselves - to be adults vice sheep of the government's flock. If you're a sheep, join Obama's flock. I just wish it could be in some other country, not one so magnificently established as our own.
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