The PJ Tatler » The House GOP Voted 11 Times To Reopen The Government

The PJ Tatler » The House GOP Voted 11 Times To Reopen The Government

The House GOP Voted 11 Times To Reopen The Government

by
Matt Vespa
Bio

October 15, 2013 - 2:09 pm

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, the Republicans DID compromise to avoid a shutdown.  They were going to keep the government open, but asked that Obamacare be delayed.  Yes, even Planned Parenthood would get their annual funding from the government.  Senate Democrats under Harry Reid said no. Here are the eleven times the House GOP voted to reopen the government – but were blocked by Senate Democrats and the president. Yet, it’s conservatives who are the ones being obstructionist.

1. Roll Call 478 on H.J. Res. 59 (September 20, 2013)

Earlier in September, House Republicans voted to fund the government at current spending levels while strengthening our economy and protecting millions of American families by defunding ObamaCare.
Senate Democrats killed the bill, and President Obama threatened to veto it.
2. Roll Call 497/498 on H.J. Res 59 (September 28, 2013)
With hours left until the government ran out of funding, House Republicans voted to keep the government open at current spending levels while protecting our economy by delayingthe glitch-filled ObamaCare for one year and repealing the tax on medical devices like pacemakers and children’s hearing aides.
Senate Democrats killed the bill, and President Obama threatened to veto it, causing the government shutdown.
3. Roll Call 504 on H.J. Res 59 (September 30, 2013)On September 30, the House GOP again voted to fund the government at current spending levels, while ensuring that Congress doesn’t receive special treatment under ObamaCare, and delaying ObamaCare’s individual mandate.
Again, Senate Democrats killed the measure in the Senate, and President Obama threatened to veto.
4. Roll Call 505 on H.J. Res 59 (September 30, 2013) 
That same night, Republicans in the House voted to request a formal House-Senate conference, so Democrats and Republicans could sit down at the table and negotiate to resolve their differences.
Senate Democrats defeated that resolution, and President Obama threatened to veto it.
5. Voice Vote on Provide Local Funding for the District of Columbia Act (October 2, 2013)To help reopen parts of the government while Democrats refused to negotiate, House Republicans passed H.J. Res. 71 by voice vote, which would have restored funding for the government of the District of Columbia.
Senate Democrats blocked the bill, and President Obama threatened to veto it.
6. Roll Call 513 on Open Our Nation’s Parks and Museums Act (October 2, 2013)
To help reopen parts of the government while Democrats refused to come to the table and work out differences, the House GOP voted to restore funding for the nation’s parks and museums – including the World War Two Memorial in Washington that has been closed to visiting veterans.
Senate Democrats killed the bill, and President Obama threatened to veto it.
7. Roll Call 514 on Research for Lifesaving Cures Act (October 2, 2013)To help restore funding for vital cancer research and other lifesaving innovations, the House GOP voted to reopen the National Institute of Health.
Senate Democrats blocked the bill (see Harry Reid ask a reporter “why would we want to do that?” when asked if he would vote to resume funding for children’s cancer treatment), and President Obama threatened to veto it.
8. Roll Call 516 on Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act (October 3, 2013)
In order to make sure that the government shutdown doesn’t get in the way of paying our National Guard and Reserve, the House GOP voted for the Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act.
Senate Democrats blocked the bill, and President Obama threatened to veto it.
ise to America’s Veterans Act (October 3, 2013)The House GOP voted to provide immediate funding for vital veterans benefits and services during the government shutdown.
Senate Democrats blocked the bill, and President Obama threatened to veto it.
10. Roll Call 522 on National Emergency and Disaster Recovery Act (October 4, 2013)The House GOP voted to provide immediate funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure Americans have access to emergency responders in the case of a disaster.
Senate Democrats blocked the bill, and President Obama threatened to veto it.
11. Roll Call 524 on Nutrition Assistance for Low-Income Women and Children Act (October 4, 2013) The House GOP voted to provide immediate funding for nutritional assistance for nearly 9 low-income million mothers and children.
Senate Democrats blocked the bill, and President Obama threatened to veto it.

Given how the president’s approval rating has sunk to historic lows, this shutdown gives Obama a way to re-energize his stalled legislative agenda.  He wasted the most precious moments of his second term on a gun control push that was never going to pass, and he was stuck in neutral until the shutdown.  Sadly, there are only a few congressional races that are competitive, the next election is thirteen months away, and Obamacare’s rollout was disastrous.  Hence, everyone will forget about the shutdown – and the focus will shift to Obamacare’s impact on the economy.
Conservatives have an avenue to claim victory. The only question is whether they can package it properly to resonate with the electorate.  Additionally, we have to worry about some of the more establishment Republicans in the senate surrendering to liberals.
Nevertheless, the House GOP, along with the Democrats, voted to reopen the government – and Obama said no.