Anchor Rising: Letting Them Open the Door to Correction

February 13, 2008

Letting Them Open the Door to Correction

Justin Katz

Dan Yorke was livid, yesterday, about attempts by General Assembly leaders to grease the legislative chute for the next budget. From the relevant Providence Journal story:

Although [House Majority Leader Gordon] Fox [D, Providence] withdrew one provision, the rule changes scheduled for House Rules Committee review following this afternoon's House session will contain several proposals opposed by House Republicans. They include limiting debate on budget-related votes and blocking members from introducing budget-related proposals already heard by a House committee, without the written permission of the Finance Committee chairman.
"That's going to cut off essentially all minority budget amendments," said Rep. John J. Loughlin, R-Tiverton. "That was one of the biggest ways we had of getting our issues out."

The committee discussion has been postponed for a couple of weeks, and I wonder whether it mightn't be counterproductive to try to stop the attempts of House Speaker Bill Murphy (D, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) to curtail our representatives' abilities. After all, the little dictators in the GA may be charging full bore at Article IV, Section 4, of the Constitution, which guarantees to all states "a Republican Form of Government." Maybe the feds will give us the gift of a redo order.

(Yeah, I'm half-kidding in a daydream. This rule change must die.)

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I'll be there protesting, being civilly disobedient, and getting arrested if necessary.

...extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice... moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue...

Who's with me? This is the time to stand up or sit down and shut up.

Posted by: Greg at February 13, 2008 9:33 AM

greg-i don't think you will have to go to thart extent if the republicans take this to state or federal court-it's patently unconstitutional on it's face-disallowing representation by elected officials and suppressing political speech

Posted by: joe at February 13, 2008 9:56 AM

Great, Joe. Let's let the politically appointed and connected hacks in the 'justice' system in this state rule on the actions of the scum that helped get them there. Good plan.

And meanwhile, while we are waiting for this to wind it's way through the court system, are we to sit on our thumbs while our elected representatives are muzzled?

I wonder what substance they put in the food and water in this state that makes so many of you roll over and wait for a belly rub instead of getting off your thumbs and DOING something.

Posted by: Greg at February 13, 2008 10:35 AM

Greg:
Provide a date and time and I will be there.

Posted by: Red at February 13, 2008 11:05 AM

Keep an ear out to Matt Allen's show. I'll be following his lead.

Posted by: Greg at February 13, 2008 11:28 AM

I think this will be stillborn. Even Marxist "journalist" Ian "Walter Duranty" Donnis is appaled by it.

Posted by: Mike at February 13, 2008 8:24 PM

So ... the people's elected representatives would not be allowed to discuss the disposition of the people's money. That sounds so legal and so absolutely Constitutional.

With the postponement of the hearing on this bill, it sounds like the Speaker may wisely be reconsidering.

If not, Greg, I'm with you.

Posted by: Monique at February 13, 2008 10:01 PM