Posted by: McQ on Saturday, July 26, 2008 Well one reason has to do with the "leadership" of both Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid. Here's an example. Remember when Nancy Pelosi said, after becoming Speaker, that unlike the previous Republican Congress, "bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full and fair debate consisting of a full amendment process that grants the Minority the right to offer its alternatives." Instead, Pelosi has done precisely what she whined and complained about for years. In the latest example, she is taken to task by none other than the Washington Post: WHY NOT have a vote on offshore drilling? There's a serious debate to be had over whether Congress should lift the ban on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf that has been in place since 1981. Unfortunately, you won't be hearing it in the House of Representatives — certainly, you won't find lawmakers voting on it — anytime soon.Indeed, why not? How about it Madam Speaker - why not? Isn't that what you promised? Isn't that what was going to make this Congress the most ethical and honest Congress ever? Why not allow a vote Madam Speaker? As the WaPo concludes: If drilling opponents really have the better of this argument, why are they so worried about letting it come to a vote?The chirping of crickets answers the question and the use of raw power and procedure to stifle and prevent debate is the method of choice for the leader of the most "ethical and honest" Congress in history. On the bright side: Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) called off committee consideration of spending bills on which Republicans were threatening to offer drilling amendments. The result threatens to be the first time since at least 1950 that lawmakers will go home for the August recess without either chamber having passed a single appropriations bill.There's always a silver lining in any dark cloud. |
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