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Friday, March 2, 2012

War / Olympia Republicans Just Seized Control of the Washington State Senate

Posted by Goldy on Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 4:50 PM

Utilizing a parliamentary maneuver called the "9th Order", and thanks to the support of alleged Democrats Jim Kastama, Tim Sheldon and Ro_ney Tom (a man who doesn't even deserve a "D" in his name, let alone next to it), Republicans have just seized control of the Washington State Senate Floor in attempt to force through the Republicans 233-page budget proposal, without hearings or review. You can watch the debate right now streaming on TVW. It's pretty dramatic.

So much for bipartisanship. Or even decorum. This is at best a political stunt, at worst a coup.

UPDATE (4:57 PM): Kastama, by the way, is running for Secretary of State as a Democrat. Given his betrayal today, I'd vote for a Republican in November before marking my ballot for him. Not that it matters, as I can't see how he now gets enough Democratic votes in the primary to make it through the top-two.

UPDATE (5:10 PM): How many times does shit like this have to happen for Democrats to realize that Republicans view Democrats' unwillingness to go nuclear as a sign of weakness to be exploited at every opportunity? Hell, conservative Democrats view Democrats unwillingness to go nuclear as a sign of weakness. Kastama, Tom, and Sheldon should be expelled from the Democratic caucus. That might teach 'em. And besides, if Republicans are going to have a majority in practice, they might as well have one in reality, so that a Democratic so-called "majority" doesn't get blamed for the Republicans' cruel budget.

UPDATE (5:33 PM): I need to head home and walk my dog before her bladder explodes, but one final comment on this post. This is more than just crossing party lines. Kastama, Tom, and Sheldon are voting with the Republicans to subvert the process and embarrass their own leadership. This is inexcusable behavior—behavior no Republican would dare without well justified fear of being stripped of all committees and privileges. Democrats will never have the discipline they need to govern until they impose it on their own members.

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They have a striker that is 233 pages long and barely went up on the bar and onto leg.wa.gov. Essentially the contents are secret. Even in the most horsetradingest, sausage-makingest proceedings you can almost always find these sorts of things.

It's a secret budget. They expected to pass it in under an hour after the release of the striker.

Posted by Baconcat on March 2, 2012 at 4:56 PM

Look at those names. Do I think Charter Schools are back in there? Yes I do. And if they are, then Tom, Sheldon and Kastama are going to get their asses handed to them shortly.

Posted by gator bait on March 2, 2012 at 5:04 PM

This is nothing less than a co-ordinated attack on democratic (that IS a small "d" folks) by this extreme Republican minority across the country.

Loony fucking assholes...send $$$ to they Democratic opponents. Get them the fuck out of there.

Posted by Rujax!

on March 2, 2012 at 5:05 PM

Nickels will make a great secretary of state, thank you! And this will help solidify his primary lead.

Posted by Ben Schiendelman on March 2, 2012 at 5:09 PM

Can we just cede everything east of the Castcades to Idaho and be done with it? Jesus. The senate, always the senate.

Posted by seattlestew on March 2, 2012 at 5:16 PM

Oh, Charlie Brown, this time I PROMISE I won't pull the football away.

How does the saying go? Fool me once, shame on you; fool me 365 times, what the fuck were you thinking?

Posted by Fnarf

on March 2, 2012 at 5:17 PM

Ha ha, Eide requested a full reading of the bill. They will run out the clock tonight on that reading.

Posted by MrBaker

on March 2, 2012 at 5:19 PM

The only winner here is Greg Nickels. The losers are the Washington Democrats, whose spineless cowardice has finally caught up with them.

Posted by junipero on March 2, 2012 at 5:19 PM

Rule 64 is like Rule 34 in that one person is totally fucking someone else.

Posted by Baconcat on March 2, 2012 at 5:28 PM

I flat out do not understand what's going on here. I don't really understand the mechanics of the Senate as well as I probably should. Why is this "secret budget" a big deal - other than the fact that no one's had a chance to read it. Shouldn't they just vote "no" and move on? Is there something about the timing that is advantageous to the Republicans?

Posted by Ruke on March 2, 2012 at 5:28 PM

@10: There are a few bills that were set to pass if they hit a floor vote. The GOP saw an opening and struck.

Dead bills include the Reproductive Parity Act which the Republicans in the Senate wanted to kill in order to help further their war on women.

Posted by Baconcat on March 2, 2012 at 5:37 PM

Why is it a big deal? Because no one's read it! Yes, they should vote no but that "should" is a moral should, not a political should. The Dem majority is slim and a bunch of whatevers will vote with the Republicans.

Posted by sarah70 on March 2, 2012 at 5:39 PM

@11, exactly. This doesn't have anything to do with passing a budget. None of the Republicans give a shit if that pig passes or not. They're just trying to throw out the entire remaining agenda.

Posted by Fnarf

on March 2, 2012 at 5:40 PM

Nobody has read it, it hasn't had a hearing or public testimony, Eide has the right then to insist on a full reading.
At some point tonight there is a rule about how late you can have floor debate, they can think about that in 4 hours.

Posted by MrBaker

on March 2, 2012 at 5:48 PM