House Republicans are upset at Democrats’ changes to House procedural rules, which includes dropping the “so help me God” portion of a witnesses’ swearing-in oath and replacing plastic water bottles with glassware.
According to a Saturday New York Times report, these changes have raised the hackles of Republican lawmakers.
“I am a sinner, I make mistakes every single day, but I do think that we could use a little more of God, not less,” said Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA).
The Times describes an instance when Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) interrupted an Energy and Commerce oversight subcommittee hearing to tell subcommittee chair Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) that the witness’ oath was “incorrect and incomplete.”
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) of “Chicken Barr” fame accused his GOP colleagues of “using God.”
“I think God belongs in religious institutions: in temple, in church, in cathedral, in mosque — but not in Congress,” said Cohen.
Apparently the GOP’s ire at these recent changes goes beyond so-called neglect of the Almighty: When the Committee on National Resources decided to replace plastic water bottles with glassware, one Republican reportedly kept bringing a plastic bottle anyway.
