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Democrats stumble on approach to special projects
By: JIM ABRAMS - Associated Press | ∞
WASHINGTON -- The Senate's new Democratic leaders, the fragility of their thin majority on display for the first time, were set back Thursday when nine Democrats joined with Republicans in support of stricter House-passed rules on lawmakers' pet projects
Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was forced to delay a final vote on a measure he opposes after losing 51-46 a parliamentary attempt to kill it.
The measure, an amendment to an ethics and lobbying bill, would have adopted a wider definition of "earmarks," specific projects inserted in bills, to include Corps of Engineer water projects, Pentagon weapon systems and items from other federal entities.
The language favored by Reid would require disclosure of only targeted funds directed to nonfederal entities such as city parks, state universities and private contractors. Reid crafted the ethics bill with Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., but McConnell supported DeMint on the earmarks issue.
"If we're going to go through all this process, if we're going to change the laws and try to tell the American people that now you can see what we're doing, let's don't try to pull the wool over their eyes," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., sponsor of the amendment.
Among the Democrats siding with DeMint were possible presidential candidates Barack Obama, D-Ill., and John Kerry, D-Mass., freshmen Jim Webb of Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana, and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, who faces a tough reelection bid in 2008.
DeMint insisted that the Senate definition would catch only about 5 percent of earmarks, saying that in most instances lawmakers insert their pet projects not into the bill itself but into the explanatory report language that accompanies the bill and is not subject to a vote.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said that of some 12,852 earmarks found in bills last year, only 534 would be subject to Senate disclosure rules.
The conservative DeMint praised new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for backing the more comprehensive earmark rules that the House approved last week. "I'm here to defend her language on behalf of the Democrat colleagues on the House side."
After the move to kill the DeMint language failed, Democrats refused to allow the amendment to be approved by voice, a normal procedure, and an hour later Reid called the entire Senate to the floor to beseech them to reconsider. He did not set a time for a final vote.
"It's important that the Senate rules be amended slowly and with careful bipartisan deliberation," Reid said, stressing that the House didn't spend much time on their version and the Senate approach was "so much better."
Reid argued that his version was stronger than DeMint's in disclosing lawmakers seeking special tax benefits for a small group of people or an industry, and included language requiring lawmakers to certify that they had no personal stake in earmarks they support.
Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also said the DeMint provision was "unworkable" because it was so broad that it could be applied to thousands of projects included in federal spending bills.
Nine Democrats and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut voted against killing the DeMint amendment. Seven Republicans voted against DeMint. The Democrats hold a majority with 49 Democrats and two independents who support the party. Republicans hold 49 seats.
The ethics and lobbying bill, which toughens laws barring lobbyists from providing gifts, meals and free travel to lawmakers, is expected to be on the Senate floor through next week.
The bill is S. 1
On the Net:
Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov/
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bhenry wrote on Jan 11, 2007 8:52 PM:"It's important that the Senate rules be amended slowly and with careful bipartisan deliberation," Reid said, stressing that the House didn't spend much time on their version and the Senate approach was "so much better." Best line in the story, thanks for admitting that Pelosi is pushing crap thru the house just media hype.
uberrare wrote on Jan 11, 2007 9:07 PM:This can only be solved with a "single subject" limitation, i.e. all bills deal with only one strict subject.
jreid wrote on Jan 11, 2007 10:08 PM:Harry Reid is corrupt as shown in his Las Vegas dealings. He will not want full disclosure of his pet projects.
Billybitz wrote on Jan 11, 2007 10:21 PM:Let the public know who are the ones making earmarks and pork stuffing at midnights.
mike wrote on Jan 11, 2007 11:32 PM:Harry the Hat has had a hard time with this trick. This maybe foreshadowing of a conservative backlash in the Senate and House...
bristolm wrote on Jan 12, 2007 12:06 AM:I have been a registered Democrat all of my life (40 years) and a party activist from the age of 14. Never have I been more ashamed of or disheartened by the leadership of my party or its federal elected representatives. Instead of making good on recent campaign promises, that leadership seems only interested in politics as usual. Indeed, here we are not even a month into a new congressional session and along comes a perfect opportunity to send a message that the party is serious about reform and its promises to voters. And what happens? Instead of stepping up and hitting one out of the park, my party's Senate leadership gets caught up in a game of word parsing over something as fundamentally outrageous as congress' historic penchant for pork barrel spending. Will it never end?
Al wrote on Jan 12, 2007 2:59 AM:ALL "EARMARKS" SHOULD BE OUTLAWED! Everything should be above board and the voters should know who is passing such self serving laws and appropriations bills.
jjj wrote on Jan 12, 2007 3:22 AM:When pigs fly! Slipping in money earmarked for pet projects for their own states is what keeps getting them elected over and over again.
irwin wrote on Jan 12, 2007 3:31 AM:the voters can recognize the wheat from the chaff
Elju wrote on Jan 12, 2007 3:46 AM:Give me a break! They don't want honest and ethical reform. How could they become wealthy while drawing a Congressman's salary? They will not enact sensible legislation, but if they did, they would circumvent it.
beamerboy wrote on Jan 12, 2007 4:00 AM:Nothing ever, ever, ever changes in Washington. This is all for show and nothing else!!!
Joem wrote on Jan 12, 2007 4:25 AM:Oh yes, the pork barrel crowd want the people to believe that all spending is out in the open for everyone to see. At the same time they want spending on their pet projects to be concealed from the public. Sleeze
becesteve wrote on Jan 12, 2007 4:29 AM:"It's important that the Senate rules be amended slowly and with careful bipartisan deliberation," Reid said... Read; "It's important that the Senate rules be amended slowly and with only Democratic deliberation," Reid said,
Swim wrote on Jan 12, 2007 4:42 AM:Where were the stories about democrats before the November elections?
William wrote on Jan 12, 2007 4:44 AM:Congress will not pass any rules that will prohibit their ability to buy votes.
MichiTed wrote on Jan 12, 2007 4:46 AM:Please fire off a short email congratulating these individuals who seek to do the right thing. When they know they have support in their positions they tend to keep up the Crusade.! Sen. Durbins comment "unworkable" shows just how arrogant these pompus "civil servants" are.
jamestnjr wrote on Jan 12, 2007 4:48 AM:WOW! Only .04% of these last year earmarks were subject to disclosure rules. If they spent more time working and less time watchinf football games, they would get to more of these issues. WHY ARE WE PATING THEM ANYWAY????????? 7 YEAR TERM LIMITS....
MEHC5 wrote on Jan 12, 2007 5:06 AM:This story will NEVER make it to the press or to TV news. Look for it only on FOX!!! Hmm... can you get Kennedy's reaction too?
Chatham wrote on Jan 12, 2007 5:13 AM:If we really are the People,as in "We the People" then these servants of the People, both in the Senate and the House, should be personally obligated and want to make all transactions Transparent. After all, they are paid to do that.
Herkimer wrote on Jan 12, 2007 5:28 AM:Dems talk a good game when trying to get elected, then reveal their usual corrupt selves when in office. Harry Reid is an excellent example of this.
RailRider wrote on Jan 12, 2007 5:50 AM:Why is anyone surprised about Dingy Harry's latest ploy? When and until the American people demand "clean" legislation that lay people can understand, it will ocntinue to be the "same ole' game".
jes2 wrote on Jan 12, 2007 6:05 AM:So much for the hypocritical intent of the party that calls the Republicans guilty of nurturing "a culture of corruption". It's a shame that the majority of the media will insure that these stunts won't make prime time. Thanks, NC Times, for sharing it with us!
LaVerne wrote on Jan 12, 2007 6:09 AM:some needs to check out Section 220 of this bill. It would prevent organizations like American Families Association from informing the common man about what the government is doing. However, it would exclude organizations like MoveOn.Org. This is justice?
Cowboy wrote on Jan 12, 2007 6:10 AM:Let the light of day shine on our money and where it is being spent. If they (Congress) are going to take my money, I want to know where it ALL goes. I have to be accountable, so shouild they
Scott wrote on Jan 12, 2007 6:18 AM:I hope you all can CLEARLY see it does not mater which of "these" 2 parties are in control, they are all ego mainiac power hungry crooks. Don't forget, they live on another plain!
Bill wrote on Jan 12, 2007 6:24 AM:One way to clean up Congress would be to enact, then strictly enforce, term limits. I like the "single subject" limitation and line item veto, too. Require that all congress-critters state in writing that their legislation does not violate the letter of spirit of the constitution, and mandate a heavy penalty if they're found later to have lied about it.
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