WASHINGTON—It was a day for House Republicans to relish: the first day of the 112th Congress, with a sizable majority and control over the legislative agenda, the celebration of their popular new speaker, and an opportunity to change the rules with debate, and a vote on their long-heralded procedural reform package.
Over 400 members of the House attended, with family members in the gallery, children and grandchildren sitting on legislator’s laps, and friends and colleagues happy to congratulate each other on the beginning of a new chapter.
John Boehner (R-Ohio), nominated and elected Speaker of the House, was joined by his wife and two daughters, as well as 10 of his 11 brothers and sisters.
On entering the chamber during the initial gathering of the quorum, it was clear that Boehner was the man of the day—an overwhelming number of his colleagues wanted to shake hands and have pictures taken with him. Boehner maintained his usual calm, and humble composure, wiping his eyes a few times, but not succumbing to emotion as he has in the past.
Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the Republican Conference, said of Boehner during his official offer for the nomination, “This proud son of Ohio has waited tables, mopped floors, tended bar, worked construction, worked his way to a college degree at night school, led a thriving company, and through his faith, his hard work and his values, is now poised to become the next speaker of the House of Representatives.”
The speech resulted in cheers, and a long and sustained standing ovation for Boehner.
In sharp contrast, and reflecting the loss of power sustained by Democrats during the midterm elections, outgoing speaker Nancy Pelosi’s nomination for minority leader was met with a show of support noticeably more reserved.
Pelosi’s nomination was also clouded by the opposition of Blue Dog Democrats, those who suffered the greatest election losses and were punished by conservative voters for unpopular policies passed during Pelosi’s leadership.
The final election count was 241 for Boehner, 173 for Pelosi, and 19 “other” votes, most notably—11 votes for Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), the man who led the opposition to Pelosi’s nomination as minority leader. In total, 19 Democrats withheld votes from the former first female speaker of the House.
In the past few days, Pelosi has made herself available frequently to the press, being sure to get her party’s message across, delivering remarks at a Congressional Black Caucus swearing-in ceremony earlier in the day, and holding a House Democratic leadership press conference on Tuesday.
She has emphasized that Democrats, under her leadership, will focus on job creation, strengthening the middle class, and reducing the deficit. She reiterated that message on the House floor during a speech in which she officially passed over the gavel and control to Boehner.
“When the new majority comes forward with solutions that address these American challenges you will find us a willing partner,” she offered.
Pelosi also emphasized her party’s achievements: the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, reforms favoring veterans, financial support for students, and the new health care legislation.
“We must stand willing to finding common ground, to solve problems and ensure a better American future for all Americans,” she said.
When Boehner stood up to give his acceptance speech, he laid down his style right away with the words: “It is still just me.”
He followed with a promise to listen to the American people, and not to take the “privilege” of ruling for granted.
“The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin to carry out their instructions.”
Boehner cautioned his own party, saying that they would honor their pledge to America and listen to the American people above all else, but that they would do so “in a manner that restores and respects the time honored right of the minority to an honest debate—a fair and open process.”
Boehner also took the opportunity to promote his party’s long-heralded rules package, which was offered for a vote in the afternoon.
He said the package would “emphasize real transparency, accountability, and a renewed focus on our Constitution.” He also promised to allow more amendments, and more time for bill examination before voting.
“Old rules that make it easier to increase spending will be replaced by new rules that make it easier to cut spending, and we will start by cutting Congress’s own budget,” he said.
Republicans are suggesting a 5 percent across-the-board cut in spending, as well as a reduction in the budget to 2008 levels.
They are also proposing to replace the current modus operandi of Pay-Go with Cut-as-you-Go, meaning any new spending measures must be offset with cuts elsewhere—effectively a cap on spending.
Democrats are criticizing the proposal, arguing that the new rules set a double standard by allowing tax cuts without compensation for resulting losses in government revenue.
In an unexpected move, resulting in the first vote of the new Congress, the delegate from the District of Columbia, Democratic Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, stood up to challenge the Republican rules package as soon as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor offered it to the floor.
Norton’s request was for another chance to change a proposed rule that removes the right of delegates such as herself, and the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico to vote on the floor of the Committee of the Whole.
Cantor countered with a proposal to table the motion, resulting in a procedural vote, which fell along party lines, with Republicans effectively killing the proposal.
The rules package was then passed by the new Republican majority.
Tomorrow, when the House convenes at 10:30 a.m., the first order on the agenda will be a collective reading of the Constitution, a move seen by critics as the Republican establishment reaching out to appease the incoming members.
Debate on a proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act was scheduled for the afternoon. Cantor has promised to bring a repeal vote to the floor by Friday.
Over 400 members of the House attended, with family members in the gallery, children and grandchildren sitting on legislator’s laps, and friends and colleagues happy to congratulate each other on the beginning of a new chapter.
John Boehner (R-Ohio), nominated and elected Speaker of the House, was joined by his wife and two daughters, as well as 10 of his 11 brothers and sisters.
On entering the chamber during the initial gathering of the quorum, it was clear that Boehner was the man of the day—an overwhelming number of his colleagues wanted to shake hands and have pictures taken with him. Boehner maintained his usual calm, and humble composure, wiping his eyes a few times, but not succumbing to emotion as he has in the past.
Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the Republican Conference, said of Boehner during his official offer for the nomination, “This proud son of Ohio has waited tables, mopped floors, tended bar, worked construction, worked his way to a college degree at night school, led a thriving company, and through his faith, his hard work and his values, is now poised to become the next speaker of the House of Representatives.”
The speech resulted in cheers, and a long and sustained standing ovation for Boehner.
In sharp contrast, and reflecting the loss of power sustained by Democrats during the midterm elections, outgoing speaker Nancy Pelosi’s nomination for minority leader was met with a show of support noticeably more reserved.
Pelosi’s nomination was also clouded by the opposition of Blue Dog Democrats, those who suffered the greatest election losses and were punished by conservative voters for unpopular policies passed during Pelosi’s leadership.
The final election count was 241 for Boehner, 173 for Pelosi, and 19 “other” votes, most notably—11 votes for Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), the man who led the opposition to Pelosi’s nomination as minority leader. In total, 19 Democrats withheld votes from the former first female speaker of the House.
In the past few days, Pelosi has made herself available frequently to the press, being sure to get her party’s message across, delivering remarks at a Congressional Black Caucus swearing-in ceremony earlier in the day, and holding a House Democratic leadership press conference on Tuesday.
She has emphasized that Democrats, under her leadership, will focus on job creation, strengthening the middle class, and reducing the deficit. She reiterated that message on the House floor during a speech in which she officially passed over the gavel and control to Boehner.
“When the new majority comes forward with solutions that address these American challenges you will find us a willing partner,” she offered.
Pelosi also emphasized her party’s achievements: the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, reforms favoring veterans, financial support for students, and the new health care legislation.
“We must stand willing to finding common ground, to solve problems and ensure a better American future for all Americans,” she said.
Boehner’s House Address
When Boehner stood up to give his acceptance speech, he laid down his style right away with the words: “It is still just me.”
He followed with a promise to listen to the American people, and not to take the “privilege” of ruling for granted.
“The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin to carry out their instructions.”
Boehner cautioned his own party, saying that they would honor their pledge to America and listen to the American people above all else, but that they would do so “in a manner that restores and respects the time honored right of the minority to an honest debate—a fair and open process.”
Boehner also took the opportunity to promote his party’s long-heralded rules package, which was offered for a vote in the afternoon.
He said the package would “emphasize real transparency, accountability, and a renewed focus on our Constitution.” He also promised to allow more amendments, and more time for bill examination before voting.
“Old rules that make it easier to increase spending will be replaced by new rules that make it easier to cut spending, and we will start by cutting Congress’s own budget,” he said.
Republicans are suggesting a 5 percent across-the-board cut in spending, as well as a reduction in the budget to 2008 levels.
They are also proposing to replace the current modus operandi of Pay-Go with Cut-as-you-Go, meaning any new spending measures must be offset with cuts elsewhere—effectively a cap on spending.
Democrats are criticizing the proposal, arguing that the new rules set a double standard by allowing tax cuts without compensation for resulting losses in government revenue.
Rules Package Passes
In an unexpected move, resulting in the first vote of the new Congress, the delegate from the District of Columbia, Democratic Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, stood up to challenge the Republican rules package as soon as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor offered it to the floor.
Norton’s request was for another chance to change a proposed rule that removes the right of delegates such as herself, and the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico to vote on the floor of the Committee of the Whole.
Cantor countered with a proposal to table the motion, resulting in a procedural vote, which fell along party lines, with Republicans effectively killing the proposal.
The rules package was then passed by the new Republican majority.
Tomorrow, when the House convenes at 10:30 a.m., the first order on the agenda will be a collective reading of the Constitution, a move seen by critics as the Republican establishment reaching out to appease the incoming members.
Debate on a proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act was scheduled for the afternoon. Cantor has promised to bring a repeal vote to the floor by Friday.
