BBV: Turn on CSPAN. Dodd and McConnell are trying to get money for HAVA

[hedda_foil]

Breaking the budget agreement to get the damn thing funded so states have the new machines for November! Bond, Hatch, and a couple other pukes are in on this.

[JohnGideon]

1. Damn!! Missed It. Catch The Replay Later. n/t

[gristy]

2. Hmmm. Is this good news??

Does this mean Senate has to vote for HAVA funding for the states to get their money? This doesn't seem right, but if it is, then it is certain to raise the visibility of the issue.

[hedda_foil]

3. It's BAD news and it passed.

The Dems voted for it and so did more than enough Repukes. It fully funds the purchase of new voting machines by the states in this fiscal year ... in time for the '04 elections. Without the money, many states would be forced to put it off to '06.

[gristy]

4. Do you have a link?

To the bill and to the final vote. Did all the dems vote for it? It sounds like it might have been an "everything but the kitchen sink" bill.

[RedEagle]

5. Not Good

Dodd is not on our side.

OK, now is the time to remind the states that they cannot get HAVA money without buying equipment certified to 2002 standards. If they do, they will face some expensive upgrades.

Tell the Secretaries of State (yeh, I know, but do it anyway), county auditors, legislators, and governors.

This is a bait and switch- and the vendors are going to reap the benefit.


(OK, not all vendors, but you know the ones I mean)

[JohnGideon]

6. Whoaaa! It's Not A Done Deal

This is an amendment to the Transportation, et al. Appropriations Bill. The bill, when passed, still has to go to conference to reconsile the House and Senate Bills.

The conferees are chosen from both parties and are supposed to confer on the bills and come to an agreement on the final bill for vote in both houses. What has been happening, now that the repukes have the majority, is that they 'meet' come up with the final bill and only then do the Democratic conferees get to see it just before it goes to the floor of both houses.

It may very well, and probably will, be that this amendment gets cut from the bill.