When Republicans took over the United States House of Representatives they promised to stay within the limits of the Constitution. The GOP promised to provide a constitutional justification for every bill they passed out of the House. The Republicans also had the Constitution read aloud, though they were careful to edit out some of the more controversial portions of the document. Now U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) is taking issue with the Republicans most recent effort to circumvent the Senate in order to pass a budget bill. In the video to the left, DeFazio takes to the floor of the House to point out one provision of H.R. 1255, which "deems" that the bill has become law even though it has not passed through the United States Senate. As DeFazio points out, Article I, Section 7 of the United States Constitution requires that every bill pass through the House and the Senate before it becomes law.
DeFazio was in such disbelief over the GOP move that he decided the H.R. 1255 must be an April Fools' joke. DeFazio sarcastically states,
"Hey guys, you got me! Congratulations! April Fools Day. What are we really going to do tomorow?"
In fact, the bill is no joke at all to Republicans, who are desperately trying to find a way around the Senate which is controlled by Democrats. If Republicans do not budge on their demands for big budget cuts, without any means of raising revenue, then another government shutdown could emerge in the coming days or weeks. Many polls have shown that the public would blame the Republicans if a shutdown were to occur. If, on the other hand, the Republicans compromise with Democrats in the Senate to avert a shutdown they may face the wrath of the Tea Party. If the Republicans were able to bypass the Senate they could avoid both scenarios. However, there is this pesky document called the Constitution which seems to be standing in the Republicans' way.
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