Senate passes Democrats' ethics bill

danarhea · 01-19-07, 12:42 PM

Republicans in the Senate have given up on their stonewalling of the Ethics bill, and the bill has now passed the Senate by a vote of 96-2.

The stonewalling was over the issue of a line item veto, which the GOP was attempting to insert in the ethics bill as a rider, and not due to the ethics bill itself. Senate Republicans, however, afraid that they would appear to be obstructionist on ethics reform, finally relented and allowed the bill, which appeared to be dead in the water, to come to the floor for a vote.

The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature.

To those on both sides of the aisle, good job.

Article is here.

danarhea · 01-19-07, 01:01 PM

You will find this very interesting.

Abramoff friend, Christian conservatives fight lobby bill

Leading the charge to defeat the bill were Grover Norquist, Focus on the Family, the American Family association, and others who were a big part of Jack Abramoff's K Street Project.

I guess you could call this Abramoff's last gasp.

jujuman13 · 01-19-07, 04:26 PM

Line item veto is as has already been adjudged by the Supreme Court, to be unconstitutional.

jujuman13 · 01-19-07, 04:27 PM

However 'Earmak' insertion and the banning of this practise has not as yet been proposed, but should be.

jamesrage · 01-19-07, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danarhea

Republicans in the Senate have given up on their stonewalling of the Ethics bill, and the bill has now passed the Senate by a vote of 96-2.

The stonewalling was over the issue of a line item veto, which the GOP was attempting to insert in the ethics bill as a rider, and not due to the ethics bill itself. Senate Republicans, however, afraid that they would appear to be obstructionist on ethics reform, finally relented and allowed the bill, which appeared to be dead in the water, to come to the floor for a vote.

The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature.

To those on both sides of the aisle, good job.

Article is here.

One of the things I think should happen is a requirement for these politicians to read out loud on C-span the bills they propose and anything they try to stick in a bill.It might make it hard if a politician is sitting the asking money for a highway to nowhere in Alaska or some absurd study to study the life cycle of fleas.

jallman · 01-19-07, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesrage

One of the things I think should happen is a requirement for these politicians to read out loud on C-span the bills they propose and anything they try to stick in a bill.It might make it hard if a politician is sitting the asking money for a highway to nowhere in Alaska or some absurd study to study the life cycle of fleas.

Okay, I am sick of hearing this highway to nowhere crap about the Knik Arm Bridge project. That bridge would connect the two largest communities in Alaska and would result in huge growth by allowing commuters from the peninsula to work in Anchorage.

jamesrage · 01-19-07, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jallman

Okay, I am sick of hearing this highway to nowhere crap about the Knik Arm Bridge project. That bridge would connect the two largest communities in Alaska and would result in huge growth by allowing commuters from the peninsula to work in Anchorage.

How large are the towns and what is the cost for building the bridge the bridge and what would be the yearly maintenance cost of that bridge?

jallman · 01-22-07, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesrage

How large are the towns and what is the cost for building the bridge the bridge and what would be the yearly maintenance cost of that bridge?

The total cost of the bridge and all peripheral construction, like roads paved out through Point Mackenzie, environmental safety measures and such will be 462 million dollars. Only about 28 million of that will come directly from federal funding.

Yearly maintenance of the bridge would responsibility for maintenance is no concern of the federal government as the bridge will be maintained by the Anchorage and Matsu Burroughs along with the state government.

The towns it will connect will be Wasilla, Palmer, Susitna, Anchorage, Willow, and Houston. It is expected that Matsu will grow to the same size as Anchorage within 15 years.

danarhea · 01-22-07, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jallman

The total cost of the bridge and all peripheral construction, like roads paved out through Point Mackenzie, environmental safety measures and such will be 462 million dollars. Only about 28 million of that will come directly from federal funding.

Yearly maintenance of the bridge would responsibility for maintenance is no concern of the federal government as the bridge will be maintained by the Anchorage and Matsu Burroughs along with the state government.

The towns it will connect will be Wasilla, Palmer, Susitna, Anchorage, Willow, and Houston. It is expected that Matsu will grow to the same size as Anchorage within 15 years.

The bridge will connect Anchorage and Houston????

Damn, I am impressed. Hehe.

jamesrage · 01-22-07, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jallman

The total cost of the bridge and all peripheral construction, like roads paved out through Point Mackenzie, environmental safety measures and such will be 462 million dollars. Only about 28 million of that will come directly from federal funding.

Alright you changed my mind on it being a bridge to nowhere.