Any clue where Kerry stands on this?

[Mass]

I remember that a few weeks ago, Baucus yelled about this bill, and justly so, IMHO. I dont see Kerry's name in the cosponsors (which is a good thing), but I wonder if he has expressed his opinion on this. A task force that makes recommendations that cannot be amended by the House of the Senate, but just voted for or against? Really?

S.AMDT.3302
Amends: H.J.RES.45 , S.AMDT.3299
Sponsor: Sen Conrad, Kent (submitted 1/21/2010) (proposed 1/21/2010)

AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
To establish a Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action, to assure the long-term fiscal stability and economic security of the Federal Government of the United States, and to expand future prosperity and growth for all Americans.

TEXT OF AMENDMENT AS SUBMITTED: CR S128-131

STATUS:

1/21/2010:
Amendment SA 3302 proposed by Senator Conrad to Amendment SA 3299. (consideration: CR S81, S82-83, S94-96, S102-104, S104-105, S106-108)
1/22/2010:
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S135, S138-139)
1/25/2010:
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S174, S177-178, S179-183)

COSPONSORS(22):

Sen Gregg, Judd - 1/21/2010
Sen Bayh, Evan - 1/22/2010
Sen Begich, Mark - 1/22/2010
Sen Bennet, Michael F. - 1/22/2010
Sen Bingaman, Jeff - 1/22/2010
Sen Dorgan, Byron L. - 1/22/2010
Sen Feinstein, Dianne - 1/22/2010
Sen Klobuchar, Amy - 1/22/2010
Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. - 1/22/2010
Sen McCaskill, Claire - 1/22/2010
Sen Nelson, Bill - 1/22/2010
Sen Shaheen, Jeanne - 1/22/2010
Sen Udall, Mark - 1/22/2010
Sen Warner, Mark R. - 1/22/2010
Sen Webb, Jim - 1/22/2010
Sen Collins, Susan M. - 1/22/2010
Sen Corker, Bob - 1/22/2010
Sen Voinovich, George V. - 1/22/2010
Sen Graham, Lindsey - 1/22/2010
Sen Isakson, Johnny - 1/22/2010
Sen Alexander, Lamar - 1/25/2010
Sen LeMieux, George S. - 1/25/2010

[ray of light]

1. Look at all the buzz words! Sounds strictly political to me!

How can anyone vote 'no' even if they fill it with crap because the initial part is the buzz words!

[Mass]

2. Baucus has an amendment to this that gets rid of FastTracking.

Hopefully, they can get enough votes for this amendment. The good news is that some GOP have already gone back to obstructionism on this one, so they may help defeat this crap.

I have rarely been more disappointed by Democrats than this week, I have to say. All these buzzwords and proposals that will help nobody.

[beachmom]

3. It just went down in defeat 53 - 46 (it needed 60 votes).

I don't have a roll call though.

senatus Conrad/Gregg amd to create bipartisan deficit reduction commission falls, 53-46. 60 needed.

More here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x152930

"Prior to this vote, members adopted an amendment offered by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) aimed at preventing cuts in Social Security if the proposed commission were created. It passed by a vote of 97 to 0."

[Mass]

5. Thanks.

[karynnj]

4. I can understand Baucus' anger

In addition to the fact that this entity will complete control over what is in a bill, Baucus as Chair of Finance is seeing HIS "doamain" usurped. What I notice here is that NONE of the Senators who chair the major committee are here - except Conrad and Fienstein. (and Bingaman, if you count the energy committee.) That list is dominated by junior and somewhat senior, mostly conservative Democrats - except for the uber populist, Webb. :)

One question I have is who would be on that committee? If it is Senators and Congressmen, why not have the Finance and appropriate House committee (Ways and Means?) do this? If it is people outside the Senate, and the Executive branch has any part of defining it - it is the Unitary President on steroids.

I hope Kerry was a no on this.

[Mass]

6. Most interestingly, Feingold, who is an hawk in fiscal deficit, is not a cosponsor.\nt

[karynnj]

10. But he, Levin, and Leahy voted for it

They are the three I always associated with constitutional issues. Looking at the two lists is mindboggling and I really don't understand any patterns. There are people I respect and People I don't like in both lists.

[YvonneCa]

13. My guess (and it is a total guess) is that...

...in a bi-partisan effort to deal with our debt, long term as we must, MANY senators saw a need for a commission to make recommendations. This would be faster and allow the Congress to work on several other issues at the same time...and time is of the essence,;) Such a commission does also provide political cover...and in such a divisive epoch as this :) that is of value...especially if you are up for re-election. Feingold faces that before Kerry does.

We have often seen two amendments proposed together in situations like this...one that Repubs like more and one that Dems prefer. I think Conrad/Gregg was the Repub preference. They have yet to vote on the Dem version (which I think Obama is for). I think there is a good chance the next amendment will pass. There WILL be a commission, but Senators aren't giving away their right to modify the findings. I think this is better than Conrad/Gregg. Senators who vote FOR both, can later say they supported bi-partisan reform...which may help when the are up for re-election.

I know that's somewhat cynical...but politics often is. Sadly. JMHO.

[YvonneCa]

7. Kerry voted for it. Here is some info...

...from HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/20/progressive-coalition-war_n_430284.html

My understanding is that there was another, similar amendment that established the commission without limiting Senate rules.

What this vote says to me is that some Dems...Kerry for one...really see how broken the Senate is, and don't think it's possible to fix our economy in the 'regular order' way. I think that is so sad. But I DO think we must seriously address our debt...yesterday.

This was actually a rare bi-partisan vote, for a change. Far-right senators voted against it. Probably because it would shut out their obstructionist tactics. :) Some progressive Dems voted against it, too...probably because of idealism about Senate rules. Realists of both parties supported it.

Since the amendment failed and was withdrawn, I'm wondering if they still must vote on the other version. I would guess they will, and Kerry will support it.

[Mass]

8. Let's just say I am happy it went down, as it should have.

[karynnj]

9. I see what you are saying

But is the solution to a broken Senate to move its responsibilities outside the Senate? I really wish he had voted the other way - it looks like this was a fiscal conservative vote. I hope it was not a vote to help Obama.

What surprises me more is Feingold voted for it. Feingold has voted against the President often, but one reason is concern about the debt - he even voted against the consolidated budget. Now, no one, other than Leahy, who also voted for this, has been more consistent on balance of powers issues, so either my take is wrong or Feingold feels this is the only way to deal with it.

[Mass]

11. Among these votes, Feingold was the one who surprised me the most.

I was not expecting him to like a fasttracking of these issues, in particular given that he is a strong opponent of fasttrack when it comes to trade bills.

[karynnj]

12. He has had a huge number of confusing votes this Congress.

On another thread, I tried to look at where his and Kerry's votes were different, because a group rated Feingold much higher than Kerry, who had the same score as Sherrod Brown. It was very clear that he concerned about spending and the debt. Some of this might be he is up for re-election, but on most differences, I side with Kerry. Geitner being the exception. I think that Kerry was trying to help avoid embarrassment to Obama - but his tax errors were very likely not mistakes.

Here is a summary of all the differences in the first half of last year:

I like Feingold and Kerry, so I decided to look at where they differed in the first half of last year (I started with the intent to look at all - but after a half year, it was tedious and patterns were clear. Here is the record of ALL votes. The list below contains every disagreement. I have rearranged them to lump votes on related issues together.

Confirmation of Geitner - Feingold, who voted for Condi Rice etc "because the President should have his choice" voted NO Here, Kerry is giving an Obama nominee the benefit of the doubt that Feingold gave Condi Rice, who was not honest in her SFRC hearing. That said, this is the one vote I agree with Feingold over Kerry on.

Votes that reflect that Feingold is more fiscally conservative:
4 Republican (and one by Feingold) stimulus amendments:
Coburn amendment to eliminate money for Hollywood - Feingold and many conservative Democrats voted for, Kerry against
Feingold amendment to increase accountability - again, Feingold was with Republicans and a few conservative Democrats.
Coburn amendment that was said to eliminate waste - Feingold voted with the Republicans.
Graham amendment on home foreclosures in TARP - Feingold voted with the Republicans
Grassley amendment - Feingold voted with the Republicans.
Budget Amendments
Coburn amendment for competitive bids - Feingold for, Kerry agaisnt
2 Colburn amendment on earmarks - Feingold for
motion to yable Vitter amendment to repeal automatic Congress pay raises - Kerry for, Feingold against
Reed amendment to use the remaining TARP fund for the benefit of consumers - Kerry - for, Feingold - against
Vitter amendment to use remaining TARP funds towards the deficit - Feingold -for

Feingold voted against: the omnibus appropriations act with the Republicans and against the
supplemental budget- the bill to invoke cloture and the bill itself (Senate and conference report)- Feingold - 4 noes

Feingold voted three times to weaken gun control
Ensign amendment that cut back DC gun laws - Feingold for, Kerry against
Coburn amendment to "keep people safe in National Parks" by allowing them to bring guns - Feingold for
Gregg amendment to require various forms print info on the national dept - Feingold for
Wicker amendment that let people take guns in checked baggage on Amtrack - Feingold for

Foreign policy votes - these incidentally surprise me because I have watched the SFRC for years. I suspect that Feingold voted for the AIPAC ones because he is up for re-election. They all failed incidentaly due to Kerry's leadership:
Inhofe amendment against the UN - Feingold for
Three counterproductive Kyl amendments against Iran/Egypt/Gaza/Hamas that Kerry and Lugar successfully defeated - here Feingold backed AIPAC and Kerry didn't.
To strike the provision funding IMF - Kerry and Lugar leading the fight against this, Feingold for

environment related bills - here I agreed 100% with Kerry
Omnibus Public Land Management bill 2009 cloture vote - Feingold was the ONLY Democrat to vote against it - but both than voted for the bill when cloture succeeded.
to waive the CBA on Whitehouse's amendment for a deficit neutral fund for clean energy - Kerry for
to prohibit reconcilation for cap and trade (Johanns bill) - Feingold for, Kerry and Boxer strongest against
Graham amendment - to protect middle class from an energy tax - Feingold for, Kerry against
Bond amendment - anti future climate change bill if it affects coal - Feingold for, Kerry against

Fairness Doctrine Here, I am with Kerry

Demint amendment to prevent the FCC from ever promulgating the fairness doctrine - Feingold FOR, Kerry, AGAINST
Thune amendment to prohibit funds to the FCC to repromulgate the fairness doctrine - Feingold for

earmarks - Feingold seems to have McCain's phobia of earmarks - though an out in the open ear mark very often funds good and needed projects Kerry's stand even under Bush for a legal line item veto where the set of strikeouts would require approval is a better way than not having earmarks.
Coburn anti earmarks amendment to public works bill - Feingold for
DeMint Amendment to implement "Obama's earmark reforms" - Feingold - for (along with Lieberman, Mccasgill, Bennet and Republicans)
Johnans, Vitter and DeMint motions to instruct the conferees - Kerry no, Feingold yes - it passed
Thune amendment - to require any repaid TARP funds to reduce the authorization limit - Feingold for
McCain amendment attacking an earmark - Feingold for
Feingold amendment to require no earkmarks for disaster bill - Kerry against

National security:
Mccain amendment to eliminate the Over-the-road Bus security act - Feingold for
DeMint amendment to require at least 700 miles of fence on SW border by Dec 2010 - Feingold for


Others that don't naturally fall into categories:

Kyl Amdt. No. 793 - I don't completely understand but it involves data collected to assess best medical - Feingold for and Kerry and most liberal Democrats against.

Joint Resolution S J 5 - Feingold voted with Bayh, Lincoln, Nelson, Dorgan, Shaheen and most of the Republicans FOR the bill while Kerry voted against it.

to waive the CBA on Carpo's amendment to increase the borrowing authority of the FDIC - Feingold - for ???

To strike the provision relating to the Loran-C signal, as recommended by the Administration. - Feingold for with Republicans

Conclusions
Kerry was a key ally to Obama in passing the budget and the supplemental budget. Failure to pass them would have doomed Obama's Presidency. Feingold was frankly not helpful.

I suspect that this site has a libertarian definition of "progressive". Being against gun control and against dealing with the problem of climate change are NOT progressive values. I also think that progressives should value having a diverse mass media - instead of the sea of RW radio and cable. On foreign policy, Kerry could be best described as an internationalist and someone committed to diplomacy.