Ed Markey: I will be joining @BernieSanders in blocking the defense bill

[melman]

Link to tweet

[Autumn]

1. Yes!

[dweller]

2. oh boy

Time for Dems to play hardball

✌🏻

[David__77]

3. Good. I hope all Democrats join them.

...

[JoeOtterbein]

4. K n R ! Thanks for posting!

Go BERNIE!

[questionseverything]

7. Markey deserves a lot of credit too

Although I expect many democratic senators to join them

[MuseRider]

29. They all do.

Hooray for them. I have had little faith for many years as I watched things get worse and worse. It seems they all looked over the edge with Trump in office and those who were not likely to get all het up over things are now awake. Or is that woke now? Anyway, good for all of them. There will be many leaders come out and do these kinds of acts of defiance now and every one of them should be praised for doing so.

This time it is Sanders and Markey. A good start to a new year and hopefully a super majority. If not there will be more of this.

I have been smiling a lot more lately, I would guess we are all a little more light of heart with hope for the best to come.

[questionseverything]

48. the entire democratic coalition is doing great, working hard right now

yea for the good guys

[Hortensis]

5. They can't block it and don't want to. It was passed with a large bipartisan majority

that allows them to take a symbolic stand without doing any harm.

[lapucelle]

6. Do they have a procedural trick up their sleeves or are they simply going to vote "no" again?

Republicans Rand Paul, John Kennedy, Mike Braun Mike Lee, Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, and Josh Hawley voted against the bill the first time, as did Democrats Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and independent Bernie Sanders.

[KPN]

24. Well, that has been true in the past.

[druidity33]

30. If Democrats join together...

the Senate won't get the 2/3 needed to overule the veto. Which will put Mitch in a VERY dificult position...

[Hortensis]

32. The Democrats are together, Druidity. Trump, combined with the crucial

GA elections, have changed the dynamic, and the bill will be fillibustered. Note though, that there's some REALLY good stuff we really need and want passed added to the aid bill, it's not all about the checks, and since blocking the defense bill would stop the whole thing from going through we do intend to pass it ultimately.

[druidity33]

33. Agreed. But when we have leverage...

we rarely use it. The *Resident wants this! It is a chance to illuminate the hypocrisy of the GOP. I say we grind them into dust with it. Maybe i'm just feeling vindictive. I'm not in a forgiving mood for these people lately. Of course the bill will get passed in the end... but let's fight like heck for this!

Just my opinion of course...

[Hortensis]

42. When we have leverage we use it. Our caucuses don't come to play

pinochle with each other. Thing is, only the sensationalist tip of the iceberg is reported by the media, not what's of real importance when it happens. Most of what happens in congress is much too involved to understand without paying a lot more attention than we do.

Well, you know the hypocrisy of the GOP has been fully illuminated for years and has been keeping them in power because a lot of people like it and even more don't care. But you're right, a grinding that could really hurt them would be losing the senate majority, and in this special circumstance their abuse of their own voters may finally cost them.

If GA voters give Democrats the majority, WE will be saying what the size of checks will be. The stakes are enormous.

[George II]

8. I'm sure Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are cringing at this very moment. We might as well....

....kiss those two Senate seats goodbye.

[liskddksil]

9. They are doing this to keep Mitch's minions, Bonnie and Clyde, in D.C. away from the trail.

Link to tweet

[George II]

11. It's turning off potential Democratic voters.

[liskddksil]

13. My bet is that $2,000 is the most important thing to voters right now. Plus there is evidence that

Trump is not helping there cause anyway.

Veteran Republican pollster Frank Luntz said his data show that Warnock has caught up to Loeffler and Ossoff moved ahead of Perdue over the past week or 10 days. Trump’s recent actions had caused the shift, he said, and are depressing Republican turnout.

“They had a four-point generic ballot advantage. That is gone, because the president -- it’s amazing,” Luntz said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” program. “We know it’s affecting turnout already. We can see on the ground.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-28/georgia-senate-races-near-finish-with-trump-a-central-player

[George II]

14. My bet is no. There are 13 military bases in Georgia, and Georgia is still (hopefully not for long)

...a red state.

If Democrats block this defense bill, a bill that has passed for 50+ years, it's going to virtually kill Ossoff's and Warnock's chances of being elected.

We're not talking New York, or Massachusetts, or California. We're talking deep red Georgia.

[Lasher]

22. I share your concern.

This could backfire on us.

[JonLP24]

31. Ossoff & Warnock support the $2,000

Part of the strategy is to get Loeffler & Perdue on the record.

Isn't Trump the one that vetoed it?

[George II]

38. Yes they do. But do they support blocking the defense bill? I doubt it.

Artificially linking the two unrelated bills/votes can backfire.

[JonLP24]

41. Trump is playing games with the stimulus

The House Democrats were applying pressure to the Republicans using Trump's words against them. If Trump wants to play games so can the Democrats.

Normally I would be against this sort of thing but I understand the strategy. If Loeffler or Purdue vote no Warnock & Ossoff can use that against them in the campaign.

[Dem4Life1102]

36. And what evidence do you have to support this view

Polling data? Please post links.

[George II]

39. ....

[Dem4Life1102]

43. So you got nothing

[George II]

44. I got plenty.

[Dem4Life1102]

45. Great

Then post it with links to credibility sources.

[cstanleytech]

21. Polls though do not always mean a candidate will win

if people do not bother to vote.

[Dem4Life1102]

37. It is?

What data do you have to support that assessment?

[SunSeeker]

10. Exactly what I was thinking. nt

[Baltimike]

23. why? nt

[KPN]

25. ???????? Rationale? I don't get that. Help

me out,

[marie999]

12. Does that mean that our men and women in the military won't get paid?

[George II]

15. I'm not sure if they'll not get paid, but they certainly won't get the pay increases they earned.

[rpannier]

19. Actually, it doesn't

per the Military Times

But this year, that language is largely redundant, according to Todd Harrison, director of Defense Budget Analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Under federal statute, military pay raises are automatic unless the president or Congress opts to deviate from the expected rise in military salaries, based on a formula which centers on the Employment Cost Index, an estimate of private-sector wage growth.

In some years, lawmakers have decided to raise or lower that mark, which requires congressional action. This year, however, since a different figure has not been proposed, the pay raise can go into effect without any intervention from Capitol Hill.

The pay raise will automatically go into effect regardless of what happens with the bill

What can be effected are
retention bonuses. those could be delayed
hazardous duty pay
and adjustments for housing allowances

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/12/03/military-pay-raise-safe-from-trumps-veto-threat-but-troops-bonuses-could-be-in-trouble/

[Celerity]

40. +100

[CaptainTruth]

16. Please don't alert on me for this honest question, I just want to understand...

Does this mean I'm about to hear a deafening chorus of "Democrats are blocking pay for our troops!" from idiots on the right?

Thanks for your insight!

[George II]

17. That's probably how the republicans will spin it.

[gab13by13]

27. How did they spin it,

when Trump took benefits away from the military for his fence?

[Autumn]

18. Gonna hear from idiots on the right no matter what they do. OMG $2000 those people don't

need it, gonna get too comfortable!!! $2000.... THE DEFICIT!!!!

Shit like that. Fuck em.

[rpannier]

20. They aren't blocking pay

Troops will continue to be paid and will receive their annual 3% pay raise
According to the Military Times, where it could be effected is retention bonuses, hazardous duty pay and other add-ons
Having been in the army and received BAQ, BAS and other pay, it's not substantial and they get back whatever, if any, the dont receive up front. (That's more common than you may think. When I first was given BAS and BAQ, it took pay two months before it was fully in the system. That third month was joyous as I got for a full quarter all at once)

[Celerity]

34. +1000

[George II]

46. Toward the end of my enlistment I was in the active reserves - I think that's what they called it...

...back then (1970s), I don't remember anymore.

Anyway, I was going to the weekly Monday night reserve meetings for a month or so, then I realized I wasn't getting my checks. I went to see the yeoman about it, he said he'd look into it. A couple of weeks later during a meeting I went to see him again. He pulled out my file, looked at it, and said, "you were Honorably Discharged two months ago!"

I floated out of the building I was so happy. The person manning the quarterdeck stopped me and said, "hey, where are you going?" I answered, "I don't have to listen to you anymore!"

That was August 1972 - my discharge was June 1972.

[gab13by13]

26. Who gives a fuck what Republicans say,

when we are right? If ever there was a time to take a stand it is now.

This is for people in need. I hope more Senators join Bernie and Ed.

[melman]

28. Good question

And you are right. Now is the time.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

47. Oh, Mr. Limbaugh, please, please, stop saying those mean things about me!

I promise I'll stop asking for more help for struggling Americans, if you'll stop saying those mean things