Boehner’s office cuts C-SPAN video again as House Dems protest

By Stephen C. Webster/Raw Story

For the second time in recent weeks, C-SPAN’s video on Friday morning cut away from high drama in the U.S. Congress as Democrats demanded to be heard, only to see their session immediately shut down by Republicans.

In another so-called “pro forma” session, or a session of Congress staged merely as formality in order to block presidential recess appointments, the House of Representatives was gaveled in on Friday and immediately gaveled out again, even as Democrats took to the floor demanding to know where their Republican colleagues were.

After the session was initiated, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) stood and asked Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), “Where are the Republicans?” He was joined by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and a small assemblage of other Democrats who’ve been pushing to extend lower payroll tax rates to working Americans.

“The gentleman is out of order,” Denham replied. After citing a few House rules and the GOP’s resolution to not conduct business again until Tuesday, he then gaveled the session out and walked off the stage, even as Clyburn remained at the podium.

Seconds later, C-SPAN’s video was cut.

“The House will be back on Tuesday, next Tuesday, for another pro forma session,” a C-SPAN host explained as the shot faded to an exterior view of the capitol. “They’ve been holding these pro forma sessions every couple of days to keep the — an attempt to keep the president from making recess appointments.

“You saw there James Clyburn of South Carolina trying to be recognized by the speaker pro tem, and he refused to be recognized and gaveled the session closed. Just a reminder, too: those cameras at the House are under control of the House gallery, there.”

It’s not the first time C-SPAN has oddly cut away during a dramatic moment on Capitol Hill.

The same thing happened in December after another pro forma session was gaveled out, even as Rep. Stenny Hoyer (D-MD) called for a vote to extend a payroll tax cut to working Americans.

C-SPAN’s official Twitter account declared moments after their cameras cut away that they have “no control over the U.S. House TV cameras — the Speaker of the House does.”

It’s for reasons just like this, one might infer, that House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)told C-SPAN back in February that it would not be allowed control of House cameras.

The non-partisan political news network, produced by Congress and operated by the nation’s cable operators, had said it wanted to offer a more “journalistic product,” but was denied the opportunity.

This video is from C-SPAN, broadcast Friday, Jan. 6, 2011.

Speaker Cuts Off C-SPAN Cameras When Dems Attempt To Bring Vote On Payroll Tax Cut

By Alex Seitz-Wald/Think Progress

During a quick pro-forma session of the House this morning, Republicans rebuffed a Democratic attempt to force an up-or-down vote on the Senate-passed payroll tax holiday extension, which Republicans have thus farrefused to allow. Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA), who was serving as the speaker pro-temp, ignored shouts of “Mr. Speaker!” from Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), quickly adjourning the House.

Hoyer continued talking undeterred, saying, “You’re walking away, just as so many Republicans have walked away from middle-class taxpayers [and] the unemployed.” “We regret, Mr. Speaker, that you have walked off the platform without addressing this issue of critical importance to this country,” Hoyer added.

Moments later, the mic appeared to cut out. A few seconds after that, the video feed switched away from the House floor to a still image of the Capitol Dome. It appears someone in House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) office cut the feed, as C-SPAN tweeted afterwards: “C-SPAN has no control over the U.S. House TV cameras – the Speaker of the House does.”

Watch it: