A Sunday session in Congress????

You all realize how rare that is?? Congress keeps members in town on weekends at most 2 times a year, and that is usually for major debates -- i.e. war, passing a last minute budget to prevent a shutdown, etc.

This is beyond unreal. They flew 200+ members back to town (WE PAY FOR THEIR TRAVEL) and that beacon of journalism CNN goes live with the debate.

It's days like this when I start doing research on real estate in Ontario -- or maybe Europe.

these repukes were trying to do this on the sly

They are meeting on Sunday because they see the matter as urgent, not because they are trying to hide their actions. They are parading in front of the cameras. The Washington Post wrote today of a memo that shows the Republicans see this as a winning political issue to further solidify support among the Christian Right.

are milking this -- but it's an odd way to do it.

They don't want to wait until tomorrow. It's on 24 hour coverage on cable TV. The news channels are live, not running reruns as they usually do on Sunday night. There is nothing hidden about this debate.

And all for this one case. What about the whole bill in 99 that Bush signed? Good grief. I'm so sick and tired of this crap.

You're absolutely correct - this is an outrage and completely surreal.

Those heathens.

Well, that's lovely.

interfering with States rights.

She said she is familiar with the case,--has been close to it
we are second guessing Terri, her docs and the FL courts.
the eyes we see following on TV is almost 5 years old and are primative reflexes-15 years of her suffering in this vegitative state is enough!!

These are people I can respect...ones who stand by their beliefs and don't just toe the party line. I don't care what party they're from. When people blindly follow their leader, that's when it gets dangerous.

Go, you renegade Republican!

I was under the impression that the congresscritters have a set travel budget, and anything over that comes out of their pockets.

It gets set so high that they never have to worry about it. And if this one trip is what puts them over the top, I guarantee that they will add some money to it as part of a supplemental budget.

THE REPUGS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THE BILL FOR TRAVEL

the taxpayers $4M-$5M tonight.

would have done this if Terri had a living will.

courts have decided this outcome several times!!

Said we are sending it to a preselected Fed court and taking it away form the FL court.

will be excited" He is really onto the Repugs!!

edit: dupe

I heard Weldon earlier today make a POINT of that. Ugh.

and suddenly be coherent and speak again.... :shrug:

as a speechwriter for *.

maybe that's the key.... maybe she's channeling through the current speechwriter/s now.

this weekend.

I'm sure it seemed like a gift from heaven!

their is a conflict of interest in this case that is why they want this bill passed.

Back-room dealing a Capitol trend
GOP flexing its majority power
By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff | October 3, 2004

First of three parts

WASHINGTON -- Dismayed that the technology company Accenture had located its headquarters in Bermuda, thereby avoiding paying hundreds of millions of dollars in US taxes, the House Appropriations Committee voted 35-17 this summer to strip the firm of a $10 billion Homeland Security contract.

It was a rare moment of bipartisan agreement and an important victory for those who decry corporate tax loopholes. But it didn't last long. The Rules Committee, the all-powerful gatekeeper of the Republican leadership, prevented the measure from reaching the House floor. In a further show of its power to pick and choose what the full House can vote on, the Rules Committee allowed the House to vote on a ban on future Homeland Security contracts to overseas companies -- but let the $10 billion flow to Accenture, which spent $2 million last year lobbying the government.

The Accenture episode is emblematic of the way business is conducted in the 108th Congress, where a Republican leadership has sidelined legislation unwanted by the Bush administration, even when a majority of the House seemed ready to approve it, according to lawmakers, lobbyists, and an analysis of House activities. With one party controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, and having little fear of retaliation by the opposing party, the House leadership is changing the way laws are made in America, favoring secrecy and speed over open debate and negotiation. Longstanding rules and practices are ignored. Committees more often meet in secret. Members are less able to make changes to legislation on the House floor. Bills come up for votes so quickly that elected officials frequently don't know what's in them. And there is less time to discuss proposed laws before they come up for a vote.

"There is no legislative process anymore," said Fred Wertheimer, the legendary open-government activist who has been monitoring Congress since 1963. "Bills are decided in advance of going to the floor."

more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/10/03/back_room_dealing_a_capitol_trend/


**
October 11, 2004
Corruption of Congress
Whichever political party has a majority in a given elected body also has greater power - typically the power to set agendas, control committees, etc. Naturally such power can be seriously abused and there are plenty examples of all parties abusing such power from time to time. Recently, though, Republican abuses of such power have been egregious.

Keven Drum summarizes some highlights of a three-part series that appeared in the Boston Globe:

For the entire 108th Congress, just 28 percent of total bills have been open to amendment — barely more than half of what Democrats allowed in their last session in power in 1993-94.

Congressional conference committees, made up of a small group of lawmakers appointed by leaders in both parties, added a record 3,407 "pork barrel" projects to appropriations bills for this year's federal budget, items that were never debated or voted on beforehand by the House and Senate and whose congressional patrons are kept secret. This compares to just 47 projects added in conference committee in 1994, the last year of Democratic control.


more: http://atheism.about.com/b/a/118147.htm


LAME DUCK CONGRESS VOTES DEC. 7TH
Land Rights Network
Dec. 2, 2004

Congress Sets Another Lame Duck Session

Late Night, Back Room, Rushed Decisions Dangerous

It’s hard to believe but Congress is coming back for another Lame Duck Session December 7th. Pearl Harbor Day. Another possible sneak attack.

Action Items Listed Below

All landowners, ranchers, inholders and other allies must work hard to make sure there is no sneak attack on your rights next week.

more: http://www.freedomwriter.com/issue32/am2.htm

**

Congress votes to ban paintball in US
Jerry A. Gaston
April 2004

In a very late night session, under the cover of darkness, the United States Congress voted to ban paintball in the United States with the passage of the "America Safety Act." Although, the bill was sold to congress as an anti-terrorism bill, certain parts of the bill ban air powered rifles and airguns that fire objects at a rate of speed over 100 mph.

The 313-100 vote, with 22 abstentions, was rushed through congress and hurried into law. The bill now goes to the Senate for a final vote. The bill not only bans paintball, but allows the FBI to spy on paintball players secretly. Anyone that uses an air-powered gun will be secretly spied on, without the approval of a judge, without probable cause.

more: http://www.paintballtimes.com/Article.asp?ID=156

it is about an ideology--the culture of life!!!!!!!!!

upset. allowing the rule of law in this country to be twisted in the wind!! Bravo, brave Mr. Levin. good one.

people who have gone BANKRUPT trying to get through a catestrophic illness *then* I will believe that this is not a political matter. The whole thing reeks.

Asks how shall be be judged as a civil society. says it is a women's life to live.

bill Bobby Scott,--says we should honor the rule of allow.

who cannot care for themselves. Disabled.

will go to bed tonight hungry and how this money could have helped them.
Asked where the compassion was last week when the Black Causus tried to equalize the health care between black and white. Asks where the campassion was!! Says you will not hear it. Good for him!!

Terri S. has.

A thoughtless word coming from the mouths of people in this floor like "kill"---it is shameful.

Does not know why we are here!!!
She is hilarious DEm of Indiana--says this is about meddling!! by the Congress.

not belong in this Congress!!

trying to say are true when indeed are false. Good for her!! She is calling the Repugs on the carpet for all the exaggerations (lies).

in this House. Says we are a nation of lawe but is concerned we are no longer a nation of laws when Congress takes the Judicary things that are theirs.

rest and be with God-if you love me. This is not from Terri S. but from some advocate of Terri S.

of due process in an end-of-life decision case. So what's his point?

bill!!--by God, this man is a wacko!!
for 58 long hours her mouth has been parched--hunger pains, but she is still alive!!!!! She has not been forsaken.

Whow--that was close-he went So fast!!