so…it begins…under cover from the fuhrer…ryan and the republicans feel it is NOW time to transform the country into an OVERT police state…what is next? a FALSE flag terror incident to give the fuhrer the dictatorial powers he covets?
Good, but this is inside baseball.
It is inside. But always remember the shot that leaves the ballpark.
Especially right now, don’t place any limits on the ability of ANYONE to protest.
" will have a “chilling effect” on members’ freedom to express their views."
Feature, not a bug.
Simply refuse to pay any fines, send the issue to the courts, and do what you want.
The optics of this are incredibly important.
We have all seen the rubber-stamp legislatures in places like … oh, I don’t know … they’re out there someplace … the scenes of choreographed applause and raised hands were always jarring and impactful because they showed us so clearly that that We Are Not like That.
We need to continue to be Not Like That, and this is a hugely important way to show it.
lets hope they have as much will to fight drumpf and the republicons on all fronts…not just this one…I can only hope
Maybe instead of impassioned pleas to an empty chamber at the end of the day, Democrats should submit transcripts of their closing remarks to Congressional Record, but deliver their speeches in front of a weatherman’s blue screen.
Photoshop in a rotating backdrop of abandoned shitholes from Rumpublican districts. There are plenty to choose from in Paul Ryan’s district alone, in Racine, Kenosha and Janesville. Each speech should begin with an introduction how the issue at hand impacts the people who live with the shithole. It should call out by name, the Rumpublican whose policy position has either directly caused, made worse, failed to improve or completely ignored the matter at hand, followed by the simple declaration, “this is what we get when Republicans like what’s his name have power.”
Then, spell out the Democratic proposal, how they think it will help, and conclude that the only way it happens is when Republicans, like so and so from wherever, get replaced.
Rep. Lewis could probably get some GOP support if he could find a way to frame Ryan’s proposal as a violation of his sincerely held religious beliefs.
Little Paulie’s rule has garnishment of the fines from the Member’s paycheck built into it.
To paraphrase Yakov Smirnov, What a country!
Perhaps they should all pay the fine in Congress in session to Ryan at the rate of 1 penny per day for the entire year or whenever it is paid off.
Courts may not have jurisdiction in regards to House rules due to constitutional separation of powers.
How about every democratic representative shows up at every session with an operating video device. Make an orderly line to the speaker’s chair every morning to deposit their “fine” and broadcast the process to the world. Mock the republicans in a very public display of political theater that demonstrates how spiteful, repressive, petty, and silly they have become.
Also…what I recall is that the Democratic Reps held their protest after the House had convened but chose to abruptly adjourn at the behest of the GOP House Leadership, whose only intent was to avoid discussion on gun violence on the House floor by its members. In fact, it was that that triggered the protest since they argued that the Speech and Debate Clause should have allowed them to air the issue in a convened session of the House. The Dems were not subject to any form of Contempt of Congress by protesting on the House floor even though that’s how the GOP seemed to portray them in the press, nor were they able to remove them by the Sergeant-in-Arms and jailed for doing so. The pukes were pissed because the Dems decided to stream their actions live by cameras other than those used officially during an open session in the House. Besides, their actions didn’t involve subpoenas or failure to testify, which would have been a matter of contempt. The most these Pukes can do now is fine them. On a $174,000 a year salary that shouldn’t be that big an impediment though it shouldn’t be levied. That’s what they do in banana republics regarding free speech. Not the U.S. of A. People on the streets protest without those lovely guarantees and without the means and financial benefits to bail them out of those situations all the time. What those Democratic Reps did was a profile in courage, if only to be a bit unruly and unsanctioned.
LINK? Show it.
Read the original Bloomberg story:
Under the proposed new rules package, which was seen by Bloomberg, members could face a $500 fine through deductions to their paychecks for a first offense of using electronic photography or audio or visual recording, as well as for broadcasting from the chamber’s floor. A $2,500 fine would be leveled for the next such offense and each subsequent violation.
Emphasis added.
So glad they vow. But will they actually do it in any real world sense.
Then go to court first, a hold will be place on it, then do what you want.
Run for office.