Reid Works To “Reform” Senate
Robert Novak reports on a number of behind the scenes moves being made by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi to "reform" the way the Senate handles earmarks. Yep, good old Harry and Nancy think the already murky and hidden process of earmarking is too open and should be further hidden from public scrutiny - or even scrutiny by Congressional opponents. (Mind you, there are some Republicans who are more than happy to go along with these rules changes.) But Reid and Pelosi promised a clean, transparent Congress - instead they are working to make it actually much worse than it was under Republican leadership.
When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid picked up his ball and went home after his staged all-night session last week, he saved from possible embarrassment one of the least regular members of his Democratic caucus: Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Reform Republican Tom Coburn had ready an amendment to the defense authorization bill removing Nelson's earmark funding a Nebraska-based company whose officials include Nelson's son. Such an effort became impossible when Reid pulled the bill.
That Reid's action had this effect was mere coincidence. He knew that Sen. Carl Levin's amendment to the defense bill mandating a troop withdrawal from Iraq would fall short of the 60 votes needed to cut off debate, and Reid planned from the start to pull the bill after the all-night session, designed to satisfy antiwar zealots, was completed. But Reid is also working behind the scenes with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to undermine earmark transparency and prevent open debate on spending proposals such as Nelson's.
These antics fit the continuing decline of the Senate, including an unwritten rules change requiring 60 votes to pass any meaningful bill. When I arrived on Capitol Hill 50 years ago, Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson (like Reid today) had a slim Democratic majority and faced a Republican president, but he was not burdened with the 60-vote rule. While Johnson did use chicanery, Reid resorts to brute force that shatters the Senate's facade of civilized discourse. Reid is plotting to strip anti-earmark transparency from the final version of ethics legislation passed by the Senate and House, with tacit support from Republican senators and the GOP leadership.
Novak has a lot of dirt dug up for this column. Enough that we should consider renaming Harry Reid. Dirty Harry seems appropriate. I tried to find the Omaha World Herald article Novak quotes, but was not able to find it. Too bad, it sounds like Ben Nelson has some explaining to do. Reid and Pelosi promised a squeaky-clean Congress. Well, something is squeaking all right. Rats do that.
By FedUp, Monday, 23 July , 2007 @ 8:10 am
It’s a sad commentary on our government when they promise one thing to get elected, then turn around and do exactly as they please regardless of the wishes of the people who elected them.
This should be a wake-up call for all of America for the coming 2008 election. Who is promising what and what are the chances that they will keep their promises if/when they take office.
King Harry and Queen Nancy should be stripped of their respective offices and get someone who will work to make America better not promote their own perverted agenda.
By terrence, Monday, 23 July , 2007 @ 12:23 pm
Come on, you guys.
Gaius said “Reid and Pelosi promised a squeaky-clean Congress.”
Waddya think they are trying to do? If they are successful, NO dirt will be visible; they will have hidden it all. No one will be able to find any dirt in the Congress! The Congress will, thereby, be SQUEAKY-CLEAN!
By David L, Monday, 23 July , 2007 @ 2:57 pm
Welcome to the party.
By FedUp, Monday, 23 July , 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Terrence…. great point! However, there isn’t enough Lysol on the planet to make Congress squeaky clean…. hmmm… mebbe if they drank it… Never mind! Back on my head!