Tag Archives: House of Representatives

Marjorie Taylor Greene Crazy Lunatic

“Isolation Boxes” Proposed For Mask Refusing House Reps All of Whom are Republican

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House Democrat, Katherine Clark (D-Mass) the fourth-ranking House Democrat and Assistant Speaker has the sergeant-at-arms to force lawmakers who defy the chamber’s mask mandate to cast votes from enclosures in the gallery above to limit potential spread of COVID-19.

Clark said it’s clear that existing fines are not enough to deter certain lawmakers from repeatedly flouting rules requiring everyone to wear masks in the House chamber. And with the highly contagious omicron variant driving caseloads in the nation’s capital to record levels, Clark argued that pandemic safety rules need to be enforced.

She suggested using plexiglass enclosures in the gallery overlooking the House chamber, which were installed last year so that lawmakers subject to quarantine could still cast votes when proxy voting was temporarily unavailable.

Yahoo news

The House mask mandate was first established in July 2020 because numerous GOP lawmakers refused to wear masks, including one who tested positive for COVID-19 after spending time in the chamber and at committee hearings.

Every Democratic House of Representatives member has been vaccinated and boosted.

Two far-right extremist Republicans, Georgia Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Andrew Clyde, have each been fined tens of thousands of dollars for repeatedly ignoring the requirement that everyone in the House chamber wear a mask during the pandemic.

If the House chamber has a rule and you break the rule – for example, you refuse to wear a face mask – why aren’t you barred from entry into the chamber? Totally barred.

The entitlement of the GOP and the the inherent failure of House Rules Committee when the Republicans break rules to take them to task is a massive failure of our Government.

US House Passes LGBT Equality Act, 8 Republicans Break Rank to Vote w/Democrats

US House Passes LGBT Equality Act, 8 Republicans Break Rank to Vote w/Democrats

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As you all know by now the US House of Representatives on Friday passed the Equality Act, a bill that would protect LGBT people from discrimination in housing, the workplace, public accommodations, and other settings by amending the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Under federal and most states’ laws, LGBT Americans aren’t explicitly protected from discrimination. Only 21 states and the District of Columbia currently protect LGBT people from housing discrimination; criminal codes that specifically identify LGBT hate crimes only exist in 20 states plus D.C.; and LGBT employees in 29 states face the prospect of workplace discrimination without explicit legal recourse.

The bill, passed 236-173 mostly along party lines with the exception of 8 Republicans who voted along with Democrats to pass the bill.

The eight Republicans who backed the Equality Act, which opponents cast as anti-religious freedom, were Reps. Susan Brooks (Ind.), Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) Will Hurd (Texas), John Katko (N.Y.), Tom Reed (N.Y.), Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) and Greg Walden (Ore.).

“LGBT Americans are part of the fabric of our society and should be free to exercise the rights guaranteed to every American by the Constitution to participate fully in our society and pursue every opportunity,” Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.

Republican Congressman Will Hurd, echoed these statements to Newsweek, saying that the “nation’s patchwork of protections for the LGBT community falls well short of ensuring life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for millions of Americans.”

The measure faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled upper chamber, where it is unlikely Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will bring the bill up for a vote. 

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Democrats Stage Sit-In Demand Gun Control Vote, House of Representatives Shuts Down – WATCH LIVE!

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Elizabeth Warren

 

Scores of House Democratic lawmakers took on the House floor Wednesday staging a sit-in to demand a vote on gun control legislation and have refused to let Republicans take back control. They have taken turns talking about gun violence, said they wouldn’t leave until House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., allowed a vote on measures to curb it, and chanted over and over “No bill, no break!” The House is scheduled to adjourn on Friday and be out of session until July 5.

“Where is our courage?” said Democratic Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, who organized the impromptu sit-in. “Those who pursue common-sense improvement are beaten down. Reason is put aside … What is the tipping point? Are we blind. Can we see? … Give us a vote! we came here to do our job!”

Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, repeatedly banged his gavel to call the House into order, but the Democrats refused, and so he gaveled the House into recess.

House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., suggested that could be a marathon recess.

“Our people deserve to know where their representatives stand on this issue, just as they now do with their senators,” he said. “Led by civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis, we will be sitting-in until the House is allowed an opportunity to vote. This is an issue that ought to transcend party — it’s about saving lives and keeping our communities safe.”  

Most of the demonstration, unlike last week’s filibuster in the Senate, was not broadcast on C-SPAN. The network carries feeds from cameras belonging to the House and the Republican controlled House leaders shut it down.

But many lawmakers took to social media to post photos and video of the protest.

“The cameras may have been shut down, but we’re still here,” Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., tweeted.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Calif., went to the floor and called for a moment of silence as some held hands and continued chanting. 

“We cannot let another moment of silence happen on the House floor without acting,” Pelosi said. 

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., led a prayer. Nine people were gunned down in a church in South Carolina last June.

“I am prepared to stay here until hell freezes over,’’ Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said. “We’re here because we can’t take it anymore…We can’t take burying our young people.”.

Congressman Beto O’Rourke of Texas has begun streaming the sit-in on Facebook, giving people outside of the chamber another way to tune in as the House’s televisions, which are controlled by Republican Party leaders, remain turned off. It looks like Facebook does not allow users to embed videos while they’re still live, so go here to watch.

Pennsylvania Republican Lawmaker Mike Fleck Comes Out

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Another lawmaker has decided to live an honest life by coming out of the closet. Representative and Republican Mike Fleck gave a candid interview revealing his path of leaving the closet but recognizes that his journey has been a fearful one:

“Coming out is hard enough, but doing it in the public eye is definitely something I never anticipated, I’m still the exact same person and I’m still a Republican and, most importantly, I’m still a person of faith trying to live life as a servant of God and the public. The only difference now is that I will also be doing so as honestly as I know how.”

“I wanted to live a ‘normal’ life and raise a family, I also believed that by marrying, I was fulfilling God’s will and I thought my same-sex attraction would simply go away.”

 “[M]y livelihood depended on hiding my true sexual orientation, something I was very good at.”

“Through years of counseling, I’ve met a lot of gay Christians who have tried hard to change their God-given sexual orientation, but at the end of the day, I know of none who’ve been successful, They’ve only succeeded at repressing their identity, only to have it reappear time and time again and always wreaking havoc not only on themselves, but especially on their family.”

“I don’t see anything changing in my life, I don’t see my voting pattern changing,” Fleck said. “I just want to do my very best for the 81st District. I’m just trying to be authentic and I do owe it to my constituency to do that.”

This makes Fleck the first openly gay representative from the state of Pennsylvania but he will not be the only one. Brian Sims ran as an out candidate during the 2012 elections and is set to also represent the Pennsylvania House of Representatives starting in January.

I think it’s great that Fleck felt comfortable enough to come out and commend him for doing so. My question now however is will Fleck show support to the republican party and it’s leaders despite their very anti-gay stance, especially this past election season or stand up to them and fight for equality.  And I don’t mean the timid and apologist mentality of the Log Cabin Republicans but really standing up against the highly accepted bigotry of the republican party.

And as much as I wish it weren’t true, this has changed things contrary to what Fleck believes. And his prior affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America should make him even more cognizant of that. I understand that Fleck supports a republican ideal but currently the republican/GOP/extremist party is anything but right now. Maybe Fleck is set out to change that, maybe not but the question still remains.

Do I feel that there can be a gay republican that advocates for equal rights and vehemently challenges his/her party to stop promoting hate? Well I do believe anything is possible but we haven’t seen this variation of a republican yet in politics. I don’t care what political affliation one has as long as they fully support and advocate for equal rights. I guess only time will tell how authentic Fleck is with policy. .

Cowardly Maryland House Politicans Choke And Yield To Threats. Will Allow Gay Marriage Bill To Die

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After being bullied, harassed and threatened by anti-gay groups such as NOM, Family Research Council, and others.  The Democratically run Maryland House  (98-43) caved to bullying today and also to African American lawmakers from Prince George’s County, who cited religious opposition in their districts. So instead of doing what was right the Maryland House voted to effectively kill for this year a bill that would have allowed same-sex marriage in Maryland. .

Shame on you, Maryland delegates, for letting hate groups bully you and fold under pressure. And especially to the African American lawmakers from Prince George’s County who after they themselves suffered countless years of oppression, hate and bigotry have the absolute gall to pass it along to others in the name of “God”

Believe me when I say this it will come back to all of you  in the end.

Homophobe Massive FAIL – New Hampshire House Rejects Gay Marriage Ban By Wide Margin

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The New Hampshire House of Representatives has rejected CACR 28 which defined marriage in that state by saying it can only be between a man and a woman. It was rejected by a wide margin, 201-135, short of a simple majority and far below the three-fifths majority — 238 votes — it needed to advance to the Senate. Sponsors tried to delay a vote on the bill until March 17, so local voters could weigh in on petitions at town meeting that ask for a popular vote on the amendment. “All we’re trying to do here is put this on the ballot,” Rep. David Bates, R-Windham, (Bates = jerkoff you know.) arguing voters should have their say. His effort to delay a vote fell short on a 191-148 vote. The House also rejected another bill, HB 1590, by a vote of 210-109 which would have repealed the state’s marriage equality law.

Wha-Whaaa-Whaaaaaaaaa

Too bad, bigots.