GOP Battles to Save Legislation on Patriot Act, Arctic Drilling

GOP Battles to Save Legislation on Patriot Act, Arctic Drilling

By Shailagh Murray and Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, December 16, 2005; Page A10

House and Senate Republican leaders struggled yesterday to salvage major legislative priorities and spare President Bush embarrassing setbacks at a low point in his presidency.

Efforts to renew the USA Patriot Act and to allow oil drilling in an Arctic refuge hung by a thread in the Senate last night as the White House and GOP leaders implored rank-and-file Republicans to stand with them. A fiscal 2006 spending bill to fund health and education programs also stalled, with Republicans protesting an array of cuts.

In the House, meanwhile, an immigration bill designed to demonstrate the GOP's resolve to tighten border security instead revealed deep party divisions. The two chambers remained unable to agree on budget cuts that are intended to signal a new era of fiscal restraint. And Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said pending tax-cut legislation would be shelved until next year.

The scramble by Republican leaders highlights the growing nervousness of GOP lawmakers who see Bush battling low approval ratings as an election year approaches, and who are increasingly showing independent streaks. It also reflects the increasing effectiveness of the Democratic opposition, especially in the Senate, where the minority party is leading the revolt against the Patriot Act and Alaska drilling.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/15/AR2005121501860.html

it has nothing to do with what's RIGHT. It has nothing to do with what's CONSTITUTIONAL. For these reptiles, it's all about being faithful to the extremist whack jobs running the show. Really, it makes me ill. :puke:

That the genesis of this legislative chaos for the repukes comes from the "do-nothing" Dems in Congress.

Remember this, also: The "do-nothing" sobriquet started with the repukes as well.

Know what is propoganda. That is all.