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Here's a terrific piece from the Washington Post discussing the "motion to recommit," a parliamentary maneauver being employed by House Republicans to keep from being steamrolled by the Democratic majority.

The motion to recommit allows the minority a chance to amend a bill on the floor or send it back to committee, effectively killing it. In a legislative body in which the party in power controls nearly everything, it is one of the few tools the minority has to effect change.

In the 12 years of Republican control that ended in January, Democrats passed 11 motions to recommit. Republicans have racked up the same number in just five months of this Congress.

Democrats say any comparison is unfair because when Republicans controlled Congress, they directed their members to vote against all Democratic motions to recommit.

Now in the majority and mindful of staying there, Democrats have given no such instruction to their members, allowing them to break with the party if they choose. Many freshmen Democrats from GOP-leaning districts find themselves voting with Republicans as a matter of survival -- a reality Republicans have seized upon.

"Sometimes we offer motions to recommit to improve legislation -- sometimes it's to force Democrats in marginal districts to make tough choices," Boehner said. "Every time the Republicans win, it boosts morale. We're able to show unity, which is good for the overall team. Members feel good about winning on

the House floor. And when you're in the minority, it doesn't happen that often."

My DC lawyer/lobbyist friend says,

If you are counting on gridlock to block bad policies in Washington from ruining a great economy, please do not fail to respect those who work the grid to lock out the forces of bad policy.

Think of John Boehner and Mitch McConnell as the two best goalies in NHL hockey. So far, Pelosi and Reid have zero scores on goal. Zero.

The Washington Post captures many of the details of the job of goalie in the House, but manages to gloss over the importance of the task.

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