Harry Reid Already Failed At His Attempt To Not Have The Most Honest And Open Government
Putz! What’s worse is Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., went along with him! Nevertheless, 9 Democrats sided with the Republicans in support of stricter House-passed rules on lawmakers’ pet projects.Â
The measure, an amendment to an ethics and lobbying bill, would have adopted a wider definition of “earmarks,” specific projects inserted in bills, to include Corps of Engineer water projects, Pentagon weapon systems and items from other federal entities.
The language favored by Reid and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would require disclosure of only targeted funds directed to nonfederal entities such as a city park, state universities or private contractors.
“If we’re going to go through all this process, if we’re going to change the laws and try to tell the American people that now you can see what we’re doing, let’s don’t try to pull the wool over their eyes,” said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., sponsor of the amendment.
DeMint insisted that the Senate definition would catch only about 5 percent of earmarks, saying that in most instances lawmakers insert their pet projects not into the bill itself but into the explanatory report language that accompanies the bill and is not subject to a vote.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said that of some 12,852 earmarks found in bills last year, only 534 would be subject to Senate disclosure rules.
Well Some didn’t see it that way!
After the move to kill the DeMint language failed, Democrats refused to allow the amendment to be approved by voice, a normal procedure, and an hour later Reid called the entire Senate to the floor to beseech them to reconsider. He did not set a time for a final vote.
“It’s important that the Senate rules be amended slowly and with careful bipartisan deliberation,” Reid said, stressing that the House didn’t spend much time on their version and the Senate approach was “so much better.”
Reid argued that his version was stronger than DeMint’s in disclosing lawmakers seeking special tax benefits for a small group of people or an industry, and included language requiring lawmakers to certify that they had no personal stake in earmarks they support.
Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also said the DeMint provision was “unworkable” because it was so broad that it could be applied to thousands of projects included in federal spending bills.
1. All we are talking about is putting ones name on the earmark..if there is nothing to hide, why not put your name on it?
2. Reid wouldn’t allow the voice vote? How much slower does that place need to go? They work an average of 12 hours a week in Washington, it isn’t like we are asking them to work overtime..
3. How could the House have rushed through their portion? Didn’t he stand in solidarity with Pelosi on the First 100 Hour legislation promise? Did he think that they would spend 100 hours per item?
More at DumbOx Daily News
January 12, 2007 - 06:36 AM on January 12th, 2007
Harry Reid and honesty don’t go together.
January 12, 2007 - 08:54 PM on January 12th, 2007
Already thier lying i knew you cant trsu these reptiles take a whip to those jackasses till the say uncle:mad:
January 13, 2007 - 07:46 PM on January 13th, 2007
It’s a new day and age in DC, boys and girls.
Get used to it.
January 13, 2007 - 08:19 PM on January 13th, 2007
What is new about it? It look like the same old crap:roll:
January 13, 2007 - 09:02 PM on January 13th, 2007
legislation that off the table with the republicans is now back in play.
minimum wage hike? that’s pretty damn new…
January 13, 2007 - 09:03 PM on January 13th, 2007
that was, i mean…
ops:
January 13, 2007 - 09:07 PM on January 13th, 2007
I guess you missed the part where he is not exactly backing up the house..he isn’t all to happy to be as open an honest as his counter-parts in the House are..had you read it you would have noticed it..As for minimum wage..what is so great about it? More states than not have already raised their rates and the House made exceptions for companies that complained..so please explain how this is so magnamonous!
January 13, 2007 - 10:55 PM on January 13th, 2007
“It’s a new day and age in DC, boys and girls.
Get used to it.”
No, it not. Business as usual Only a fool would beleive otherwise.