GOP tactic causes Dems to end appropriations markup

The Hill (newspaper) GOP tactic causes Dems to end appropriations markup By Jackie Kucinich Posted: 06/26/08 02:07 PM [ET] The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday abruptly adjourned a markup of the Labor/HHS spending bill after Republicans attempted to force votes on energy-related issues. Following opening remarks by Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.), ranking Republican Rep. Jerry Lewis (Calif.) requested that Obey guarantee that the Interior appropriations bill would be scheduled for a markup on July 9. It had already been tentatively scheduled for that date, but Republicans said they had reason to believe it would be postponed. At that point, according to Rep. John Peterson (R-Pa.), Obey replied, “If you want to run this place, get 30 more members.”