A Bloody Continuing Resolution

by JASmius

Well, so much for discretion.

Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee used obscure language to characterize the push for a clean resolution which would end the government shutdown, labeling it a form of "martial law." Advocating for the passage of a clean continuing resolution that would, at least temporarily, end the current standoff in Washington and reopen the government, Lee said there were enough members of Congress who would vote for the resolution.

Yes, a clean CR.  Except for the guts and the gun oil.

"It's something called a continuing resolution, but it's a bill that you put on the floor that has been passed already by Republicans and Democrats in the United States Senate....that we could vote on today," said Lee, adding, "We have martial law - what that means - and my colleagues know what it means - is that you can put a bill on in just minutes."

Except that no Senate Republicans voted for the CR.  But that didn't matter because Senate Republicans don't matter.  My, but democracy is easy when you're on the right side of the cannons.

The term "martial law" in a legislative context is somewhat obscure but it has been used before to define lawmakers' ability to "fast track" bills without going through the usual congressional process.

That pesky Constitution, getting in the way again.

However, Lee's insistence that a Senate-approved resolution to fund the federal government be fast-tracked via "martial law" appears to conflict with Article I, Section 7, Clause I of the Constitution, which states, "All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives."

See?

This clause was included by the founders to ensure that decisions related to the power of the purse reside with the legislative body which is closest to the American people.

James Madison was a dick to the states.  Of course, so was the Seventeenth Amendment.  Without that, the GOP would run the Senate, and Barack Obama would have to get off his lazy ass and do his dictating himself.

The last time martial law was mentioned by a member of Congress was back in 2008 when [Democrat, natch] Representative Brad Sherman revealed how lawmakers were threatened with "martial law in America" by then Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson if they rejected the TARP bailout package.

Who remembers Hank Paulson other than that he was Lex Luthor to Ben Bernacke's Otis?