Senate Democrats demanded a vote to block a Dubai-owned company's takeover of some U.S. port operations, a day after a Republican-run House committee objected to the plan in an election-year repudiation of President Bush.
"I admire what the House did," Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on the Senate floor Thursday. "They said we know the president feels strongly about this. We know he said he's going to veto this. But we're going to do it because we think we have an obligation to our constituents."
Senate Democrats were trying to attach a measure blocking DP World's entry into the U.S. maritime industry to legislation designed to overhaul lobbying rules. Deep public opposition to the ports deal has made the issue a dangerous one for congressional Republicans. Despite their own concerns, Senate GOP leaders have been trying to help the administration ease congressional worries about the proposal and are hoping to avoid an early showdown vote on the issue in their chamber.
"This issue should not be tangled up on the debate over whether or not to strengthen our lobbying disclosure laws," said Sen. Susan Collins (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine, who has been a leader on both issues. Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., offered the ports amendment on Wednesday, saying the Senate must act because of public opposition to the ports deal. "We believe an overwhelming majority will vote to end the deal," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060309/ap_on_go_co/ports_security_36I'd start to demand a lot more and while you HAVE the public's attention bring up all the other things they should know.
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