Partisan Dispute Derails Ethics Reform (AP)

[Eugene]

Partisan Dispute Derails Ethics Reform
Democratic Effort to Pass Ethics Reform Derailed by Partisan Dispute

By JIM ABRAMS

WASHINGTON Jan 17, 2007 (AP)— Democrats' hopes of starting off their control of the Senate
with a sweeping commitment to ethics reform received a painful jolt Wednesday, their ethics
and lobbying legislation sidetracked by a dispute with Republicans.

Democrats failed to clear a crucial legislative hurdle when the Senate voted 51-46 to proceed
with the bill that would have reduced the influence of lobbyists in shaping legislation and
forced lawmakers to be more open about the pet projects they slip into legislation. Sixty
votes were needed to advance the legislation.

With the vote, the bill was effectively driven from the Senate floor.

Republicans voted against the motion to proceed because they were upset that Democrats
were blocking an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., that would have given
the president authority, with the approval of Congress, to single out individual spending
items in legislation for elimination.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2803409

[stillcool]

1. Let the games begin...

Unfortunately I don't have the stomach for any more of this horse-shit. I really wish....oops...better not.

[aquart]

2. Republicans don't like ethics, don't want ethics, won't vote for ethics.

The line item veto was just the bomb they put in to blow the whole thing up. They KNEW that wasn't happening.

[calimary]

3. Well, then, we should make sure we rub ALL THEIR NOSES in it.

If they want to obstruct, let's make DAMNED sure everybody knows. Get tougher. Name names. Fight ruthlessly. The ETHICS issue was foremost in many voters' minds last November. And their dictates are now being defied. We should make sure as many people as possible are REMINDED of this. Do NOT hesitate to remind people that if they didn't get the ethics reform they voted for, it was because the republi-CONS derailed it. Hang it around their necks like an albatross necklace.

[aquart]

4. A garlic albatross necklace.

People should be able to smell them coming.