Republicans Pledge to Fillibuster All Lame Duck Bills

All 42 Senate Republicans have pledged to refuse to vote for cloture on any bill until the federal government is funded beyond this week and the Bush tax cuts are addressed before they expire December 31. Apparently, they sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this morning stating their intention to stifle any quick passage of bills Democrats are considering taking up before addressing the tax cuts. The two most publicized such bills relate to a defense authorization that includes a repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and the Dream Act, giving some illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children a path to legal residence.

Of course, to politicize the issue, Reid said he is "also lining up action on a labor-backed bill to guarantee collective bargaining rights to first responders, such as police and firefighters, and a bill to extend health care coverage and compensation to people who worked in the World Trade Center ruins after 9/11 and since became sick." That way, he can condemn the Republicans for their obvious homophobia and refusing to take care of 9-11 victims. Let him do it. The GOP is attempting to do the responsible thing in this lame duck session and can remind voters in 2012 that four Democrats voted against the earmark ban:

•Jon Tester (Montana)

•Ben Nelson (Nebraska)

•Kent Conrad (North Dakota)

•Joe Manchin (West Virginia).