It was busy in the House of Representatives today (seriously).
Early in the day, the body voted 265-159 to limit the display of the confederate flag at national cemeteries.
Four Democratic Congressman voted in favor of the bill: Bob Brady, Brendan Boyle, Matt Cartwright and Mike Doyle.
Rep. Chaka Fattah missed the vote.
As for Republicans, five members joined the majority: Ryan Costello, Charlie Dent, Mike Fitzpatrick, Pat Meehan, Tim Murphy.
On the other hand, the eight other GOP Reps. voted against the bill: Lou Barletta, Mike Kelly, Tom Marino, Scott Perry, Joe Pitts, Keith Rothfus, Bill Shuster and Glenn Thompson.
The second major vote concerned an amendment that would have barred federal contractors from discriminating against the LGBT community if they wanted government contracts.
The bill actually had the votes to pass but seven Republicans switched their vote at the last minute to the shouts of “Shame! Shame!” from Democrats (no PA Representatives were among those seven).
The final tally was 212-213 and Rep. Chaka Fattah was once again absent. The other four Dems all supported (Brady, Boyle, Cartwright and Doyle) the amendment.
Four Republicans, Costello, Dent, Fitzpatrick and Meehan, supported the amendment as well.
The other nine GOP Congressman all voted against it: Barletta, Kelly, Marino, Murphy, Perry, Pitts, Rothfus, Shuster and Thompson.
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12 Responses
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Re-apportionment and Re-districting are two different things. PA continues to lose House seats because it is a low-growth state as compared to the south/southwest and west. So when the nation’s seats are apportioned, PA loses, as it has for many, many years. High taxes, poor business climate, labor dominance in many areas, over-regulation of business at all levels of government. Corruption? Plenty of it. Just pick up the paper every day to see who is next to go. So who wants to move here or stay here if you can move? Harrisburg is dysfunctional regardless of who controls which branch of government. Pension reform, liquor reform? Fuhgettabouttit. As for re-districting, both parties, historically, have carved up the state to suit their partisan needs. No surprise here. Why is our legislature so large, comared to other states? Why is it full time? And why do Philadelphia City Council people make more money than state legislators? Is anybody paying attention, especially in Philadelphia? One-party dominance there gets you what you get. Here’s a great new idea. Let’s tax soda. No, let’s tax bottles and cans. How about collecting taxes from deadbeats. How about raising taxes for those whose property taxes are too high and lowering them for others. The center city tax abatement is a huge giveaway to rich people. The middle class and lower income folks get screwed. Our new slogan: “Welcome to PA. Watch your hat and coat”.
It’s time to put an end to gerrymandering. Sign the Fair Districts Pa petition at fairdistrictspa.com.
Why should Pennsylvania continue to lose congressional seats when we are the fifth or sixth largest state based on population? The number of congressional members has not changed since ca. 1911 when the pop. of the US was what, 100,000,000? Time to add more members, that would help end gerrymandering like PA 7th, etc.
And if the dog had not squatted to poop, he would have caught the rabbit. We can still elect Congressmen with integrity even in gerrymandered districts. The problem is, we let the “kingmakers” in both parties choose the candidates, e.g., Shuster vs. Halvorson. We get the government we deserve.
Sue you are correct—they hold there seats because of gerrymandering–not because they are intelligent or have earned the right to hold office. If district voting lines were drawn fairly and not gerrymandered coupled with meaningful campaign finance reform and open primaries these bums wouldn’t be in office. They’re unfit to serve our country.
I wonder why Chaka wasn’t there. Perhaps he was…detained?
What a bunch of disgusting bigots hold these gerrymandered seats!
Wonder why Chaka Fattah was absent?