There was a time that any representative would have had the
right to bring the CR up for a vote. Ah, but on September 30, 2013, the House
Rules Committee Republicans changed the rules so that the ONLY Member allowed
to call up the Senate's clean CR for a vote was Majority Leader Eric Cantor.
Not even Speaker of the House John Boehner could do it!
Result: The government shut down a few hours later and STAYED
shut down.
Congressman Chris Van Hollen (Democrat, Maryland) decided to
get a clarification on the rules of the shutdown. Watch the whole thing, or pick this up at 4:50. Either way, Van Hollen rocks it.
