Thin Black Line
Member
I learned something new today. Apparently, 99 senators are not really
necessary anymore. Whether or not you want transparency on how your
money is really being spent, I wonder how this could affect firearms
legislation? What allows this action in the Senate?
Furthermore, if such action is legal in the Senate, why hasn't some red-blooded
American Senator always come forward and put a hold on legislation that
infringes upon the Second Amendment?
Let me re-quote for the skimmers out there:
Yes, one Senator effectively vetos the bill for the other 99.
necessary anymore. Whether or not you want transparency on how your
money is really being spent, I wonder how this could affect firearms
legislation? What allows this action in the Senate?
Furthermore, if such action is legal in the Senate, why hasn't some red-blooded
American Senator always come forward and put a hold on legislation that
infringes upon the Second Amendment?
Nation & World Home / Nation & World
Published: Aug 24, 2006 12:30 AM
Modified: Aug 24, 2006 02:31 AM
Secret 'hold' stops open-government bill
Cox News Service
WASHINGTON - In an ironic twist, legislation that would open up the murky world of government contracting to public scrutiny has been derailed by a secret parliamentary maneuver.
An unidentified senator placed a "secret hold" on legislation introduced by Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., that would create a searchable database of government contracts, grants, insurance, loans and financial assistance, worth $2.5 trillion last year. The database would bring transparency to federal spending and be as simple to use as conducting a Google search.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously passed the measure in a voice vote last month, and such heavy hitters as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., supported it. It was on the fast track for floor action before Congress recessed Aug. 4 when someone put a hold on the measure.
Now the bill is in political limbo. Under Senate rules, unless the senator who placed the hold decides to lift it, the bill will not be brought up for a vote.
"It really is outrageous to do this in the dead of night as Congress is recessing," said Gary Bass, executive director of OMB Watch, a budget watchdog group based in Washington. "The public has a right to know how the government spends money."
The secret hold has prompted conservative and liberal government watchdog groups to band together to "smoke out" the senator responsible.
Let me re-quote for the skimmers out there:
Now the bill is in political limbo. Under Senate rules, unless the senator who placed the hold decides to lift it, the bill will not be brought up for a vote.
Yes, one Senator effectively vetos the bill for the other 99.