Dems Own Rules Causing Them Heartburn

First the Dems create new House rules, and then they change them when the GOP uses them to their advantage (from Special Report):

Dems adopted in January what are called "pay as you go" spending rules mandating that any new expenditures be met by either corresponding spending cuts or new revenue. Bills may be sent back to committee with orders to make specific changes — often having to do with funding.

But Congressional Quarterly reports the rules have inadvertently allowed Republicans to insert language into bills that is politically difficult for Democrats to oppose — such as yesterday's bill on passenger whistleblowers.

Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is now vowing to change the rules to negate the new Republican tactic.

Special Report has a recent example of how the GOP is using this tactic:

House Republicans have managed to force Democrats to include a provision in their new public transportation bill that protects passengers who report suspicious activity from getting sued by the suspects. The measure was inspired by a lawsuit filed on behalf of six Muslim imams who were removed from a U.S. Airways flight in Minneapolis after passengers reported disturbing behavior.

Republicans used a parliamentary device called motion to recommit to get the protection passed and 105 Democrats voted with them. That vote to recommit is just the latest example of Republicans using new rules written by Democrats against them.

As usual, the Dems will take their ball and go home.