Aa
Congress Slips Controversial Measures into Spending Bill
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/sneak-attack-congress-slips-controversial-measures-spending-bill-n265391
".......The first was a rider that essentially overturns the District of Columbia's ballot initiative legalizing marijuana.........The second measure Congress snuck into the spending the bill will be more galling to some, because it amounts of a pay raise for the two unpopular political parties: It raises the $32,400 maximum that donors could give the Democratic National Committee or Republican National Committee to a whopping $324,000 per year, gutting what's left of the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law. The Washington Post says this was inserted on page 1,599 of a 1,603-page billl (!!!). These two measures -- and probably more like them -- will become law because they were jammed into a must-pass spending bill to keep the government open. Remember all the grumbling about transparency? All the grumbling about gigantic bills that many members of Congress never read? Given that, what happened last night was mind blowing.......
Yes, Congress has routinely imposed its well on a D.C. that is taxed without true representation. Yes, there is a legitimate argument that it's better to have political money in the national parties than in all of the Super PACs and 501c4 groups out there. But inserting these riders into a must-pass spending bill -- without congressional debate, without hearings. without any scrutiny -- is what is outrageous.(Note: House Republicans point out that they did debate D.C.'s marijuana legalization, but the Senate didn't.) "There was no debate. It's one of the reasons I'm going to vote against it." Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) said of the campaign-finance change on "Morning Joe" this morning. Labrador also admitted he didn't even know about the campaign-finance rider until one of us asked him about it. Indeed, this should embarrass every Republican who promised more transparency and debate in 2010, or who railed against President Obama's executive actions. It should also embarrass every Democrat who complains about big money in American politics, or who believes D.C. should have the right to govern themselves. (Note: Democrats are pointing out that they preferred a clean spending bill, but that this was the price of funding the government.) The good news: The government isn't going to shut down. Hooray! The bad news: Congress, once again, is discrediting itself to the American public. And thanks to divided government, you'll see that both sides are blaming the other. Ah, bipartisanship!..........."
".......The first was a rider that essentially overturns the District of Columbia's ballot initiative legalizing marijuana.........The second measure Congress snuck into the spending the bill will be more galling to some, because it amounts of a pay raise for the two unpopular political parties: It raises the $32,400 maximum that donors could give the Democratic National Committee or Republican National Committee to a whopping $324,000 per year, gutting what's left of the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law. The Washington Post says this was inserted on page 1,599 of a 1,603-page billl (!!!). These two measures -- and probably more like them -- will become law because they were jammed into a must-pass spending bill to keep the government open. Remember all the grumbling about transparency? All the grumbling about gigantic bills that many members of Congress never read? Given that, what happened last night was mind blowing.......
Yes, Congress has routinely imposed its well on a D.C. that is taxed without true representation. Yes, there is a legitimate argument that it's better to have political money in the national parties than in all of the Super PACs and 501c4 groups out there. But inserting these riders into a must-pass spending bill -- without congressional debate, without hearings. without any scrutiny -- is what is outrageous.(Note: House Republicans point out that they did debate D.C.'s marijuana legalization, but the Senate didn't.) "There was no debate. It's one of the reasons I'm going to vote against it." Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) said of the campaign-finance change on "Morning Joe" this morning. Labrador also admitted he didn't even know about the campaign-finance rider until one of us asked him about it. Indeed, this should embarrass every Republican who promised more transparency and debate in 2010, or who railed against President Obama's executive actions. It should also embarrass every Democrat who complains about big money in American politics, or who believes D.C. should have the right to govern themselves. (Note: Democrats are pointing out that they preferred a clean spending bill, but that this was the price of funding the government.) The good news: The government isn't going to shut down. Hooray! The bad news: Congress, once again, is discrediting itself to the American public. And thanks to divided government, you'll see that both sides are blaming the other. Ah, bipartisanship!..........."
The gov't used to exist for the people and by the people... the people now exist so the gov't can fleece us at every opportunity.
" I wish there were more specific legislation so that any bill that congress passed or would consider passing would address a set issue or related issues. "
Agreed, whole heartedly. The process and the bills themselves are so convoluted that nobody really knows what they are voting for. This all goes back so some of the transparency that I was fond of and had great hope for.
Now I realize that we are talking about government and government isn't about the people. Its about the machine grinding up tax payers money. That is what we are here for. To allow government to exist.
Agreed, whole heartedly. The process and the bills themselves are so convoluted that nobody really knows what they are voting for. This all goes back so some of the transparency that I was fond of and had great hope for.
Now I realize that we are talking about government and government isn't about the people. Its about the machine grinding up tax payers money. That is what we are here for. To allow government to exist.
I wish there were more specific legislation so that any bill that congress passed or would consider passing would address a set issue or related issues. Generally there are kick backs to various lobbying groups. I don't know when this started but this seems to always occur when potentially controversial measures or resource allocation bills are considered. Before a person supports any potential legislation they should go to the search engine Thomas.gov to see exactly what it consists of.
Well, I don't know anyone who could afford to donate $32K to make their voice heard in Washington let alone $324k, so I guess that doesn't change my influence on what happens in this country much.
As for what they smoke in DC, they should probably set up a medical M dispensary in the House of Reps, play some Bob Marley, and see what happens. They couldn't do much worse than what they're doing now.
As for what they smoke in DC, they should probably set up a medical M dispensary in the House of Reps, play some Bob Marley, and see what happens. They couldn't do much worse than what they're doing now.
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
