Republicans Begin Stall Tactics on Health Care Bill

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House Republicans began their delay tactics on Saturday by repeatedly interrupting Democratic women who tried to request permission to extend their remarks, arguing that House Democrats were trying to silence debate on the health care bill.

As each woman walked up to the podium to speak, Republicans cut off their remarks and demanded that the Democrats add an hour to the debate on the bill.

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), adopting a tone of a patient grandparent, pleaded with Republicans to respect the rights of others to speak and “observe reasonable courtesy” to their colleagues.

“I was just wondering if this was a stalling tactic by the majority party on delaying the vote on this important bill that will kill 5.5 million jobs today,” Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) said.

Dingell tried several times to ignore the group of Republicans who repeatedly called for “regular order” or said, “I object,” as the Democratic women began their remarks. He then tried to reason with them.

“The chair’s going to request the Members on both sides of the aisle to respect the rights of other Members,” Dingell said. “Members have the right under the rules to ask unanimous consent. If Members on one side of the aisle want their right protected, the chair observes that they should then respect the rights of Members on the other side of the aisle.”

After 30 minutes of the tactics, Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) yielded to Republicans saying, “because [of] the kindness” extended by Republicans, Democrats would now “sit quietly” and listen to the minority’s remarks.