Cleaning up the mess

[bd]

Democrats Freeze Earmarks for Now
Leaders Want Lobbying Changes Enacted

By Shailagh Murray and Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, December 12, 2006; A03



Democratic leaders declared a temporary moratorium on special-interest provisions known as earmarks as they attempt to cope with a budget crisis left by the outgoing Republican-led 109th Congress.

Congress adjourned early Saturday, having completed work on two of the 11 spending bills for the 2007 fiscal year that began Oct. 1. As a short-term fix, lawmakers extended current funding levels until Feb. 15. But the incoming Democratic chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations committees announced yesterday that they would extend current levels until the 2008 fiscal year begins next Oct. 1.

The alternative was to attempt to finish work on the spending bills when the Democratic-led Congress convenes in January, a dreaded prospect that could have derailed Democratic legislative efforts and stirred up policy battles around the same time that President Bush is due to submit his fiscal 2008 budget to the Hill, along with a large supplemental spending request for the Iraq war.

The new chairmen, Rep. David R. Obey (Wis.) and Sen. Robert C. Byrd (W.Va.), said in a statement: "While the results will be far from ideal, this path provides the best way to dispose of the unfinished business quickly, and allow governors, state and local officials, and families to finally plan for the coming year with some knowledge of what the federal government is funding."

They also said they would place a moratorium on all earmarks until lobbying changes are enacted. Those special spending provisions included in the unfinished fiscal 2007 bills will be eligible for consideration next year, the chairmen said, subject to new standards.

"We will work to restore an accountable, above-board, transparent process for funding decisions and put an end to the abuses that have harmed the credibility of Congress," the chairmen said.

The unfinished bills account for about $463 billion in annual spending and include just about every domestic program other than defense and homeland security.

The announcement appears to be a victory for conservative budget reformers, such as Reps. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Tom Price (R-Ga.), who circulated a petition last week calling for a resolution that would extend funding through the rest of the year, but without earmarks. That petition, however, called for all domestic programs to be funded at the lowest levels called for in either the House or Senate versions.

In contrast, Obey and Byrd indicated that they would seek adjustments in spending levels to satisfy Democrats and moderate Republicans who were upset by the austere funding bills passed by the House Appropriations Committee. In particular, the measure to fund labor, health and education programs fell billions of dollars short of the Senate-approved levels, and the levels that even many House Republicans said were acceptable.

The biggest victory would be for those lawmakers who have crusaded against earmarks, or home-district pet projects. Virtually all of the bills that pass the Senate and House appropriations committees contain such projects. For the fiscal year that began in October and will end Sept. 30, the slate will be wiped clean.

Obey and Byrd noted that the last time Congress passed all appropriation bills separately and on schedule, and got them signed by the president in time for the next fiscal year, was in 1994, the last year they both served as chairmen. In November 1994, a month after the 1995 fiscal year began, Republicans won control of Congress.

For more or less every year since the takeover, the GOP has struggled to produce a smooth succession of spending bills, creating strained relations between the more ideologically minded Republican leadership in both chambers and their more practical-minded appropriations colleagues. Most recently, the Senate has been the stubborn obstacle, with Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) refusing to advance spending bills during a hard-fought election year.

Those tensions bubbled to the surface on the House floor as lawmakers wrapped up their business early Saturday. "The breakdown of regular order this cycle, indeed the failure to get our bills done, should be fairly placed at the feet of the departing Senate majority leader," said Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), the outgoing House Appropriations Committee chairman.

Lewis noted that his panel passed each of the 11 subcommittee bills out of the full committee by June 30, and, with the exception of a giant bill that funds health and education programs, all of the bills off the House floor by the July 4 break. The Senate also passed each of its bills out of the full committee, only to see them run aground on the Senate floor.

The monumnental task of straightening out this nation's finances and ethics that have been plundered by the GOP controlled Congress will be a huge task. Starting with lobby reform and freezing earmarks, which were the "trademarks" of the Republicans, will bring about a political atmosphere that true Americans can be proud of iin the years to come.

The corruption and laziness of this outgoing rubberstamp congress will soon be forgotten. Our nation is finally back on the right track to being the great country it once was.

bd

[ichy_trigger]

Our nation is finally back on the right track to being the great country it once was.

So you dont think we live in a great nation huh? Thats a shame...

[Broadside]

That's great we put a hold on the spending. Now lets see some action like reduce the Federal Government as an entity. Clinton cut a lot of fat out of the military. Let's not do that again, I'm all for getting rid of the IRS and stop giving money away as part of our foriegn policy. Other then the Dem's standing up saying we hold the purse strings now I don't see this as more then political grandstanding and positioning.

[jdavionic]

yes bd, just keep posting those opinion articles and believe that the Democrats will come save the day. Keep sipping that Kool-aid. Oops, sorry...you do know that article is an opinion...right? I'm sure that if I were so inclined I could find an article that would almost completely opposite the one that you posted. I doubt you will ever grasp the concept of independent thought though.

But for others, I'm sure that you recognize the shortcoming of the 2 parties that we have today. Hopefully staying with the status quo will give way to a growth in the Libertarian party.

[Frenchy]

Both parties are corporate entities, and are inherently corrupt. Cheerleading for either is the height of foolishness. bd and XD Funny are prime examples of pom-pom girls, in this matter.

[bd]

Originally Posted by jdavionic

yes bd, just keep posting those opinion articles and believe that the Democrats will come save the day. Keep sipping that Kool-aid. Oops, sorry...you do know that article is an opinion...right? I'm sure that if I were so inclined I could find an article that would almost completely opposite the one that you posted. I doubt you will ever grasp the concept of independent thought though.

But for others, I'm sure that you recognize the shortcoming of the 2 parties that we have today. Hopefully staying with the status quo will give way to a growth in the Libertarian party.

I'm sure that if I were so inclined I could find an article that would almost completely opposite the one that you posted.

Please find one. Please.

When you learn the difference between opinion and fact you will be able to grasp the concepts that are discussed here.

I'm sorry you are so disappointed that the Republicans didn't maintain control of Congress. Your impartiality that you try so hard to impart is a joke. Why don't you go ahead and admit you are a dyed in the wool Republican Right wing extremist wacko and quit making such a fool of yourself with this charade?

I'm sure that you recognize the shortcoming of the 2 parties that we have today

Statements like the one above - and the Democrats haven't even had a chance to take their seats - is a great example of your delusional "impartiality".

But, thanks for your opinion. As long as you keep posting you opinions that you hold in such high regard the facts I post will prove out the truth.

bd

[bd]

Originally Posted by Frenchy

Both parties are corporate entities, and are inherently corrupt. Cheerleading for either is the height of foolishness. bd and XD Funny are prime examples of pom-pom girls, in this matter.

Anyone can straddle a fence.

bd

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by bd

Anyone can straddle a fence.

bd

And obtain an objective view of both sides...Try it some time!

[bd]

Originally Posted by Frenchy

And obtain an objective view of both sides...Try it some time!

Doesn't the old saying go...objective views are like A-holes, everyone has one?

In their own opinion.

bd

[uttlc]

Corruption runs rampant on both sides of the aisle, its just the way the machine works. Personally, I have always, and still do, want to run for elected office. However, I dont think I would get anything done the way it works today. There is so much scratch my back and I'll scrath yours that every good thing that could poosibly happen, is counteracted by something else. Everyone goes to Washington with these high ideals, and they are very shortly put on the back burner. Shrinking the government has to happen, but who in there right mind will kindly give up their jobs, the ones that give them incredible benefits, retirement, etc. Not me. We can't cut spending any other way, but we have become a soceity of rights, not responsibilities. Too many people believe that in American you are entitled to the American dream, not the opportunity for the American dream. Before anything changes, that has to change, and that will be a long time coming as it has been allowed to go unchecked for too long. Sorry for the long rant but this chaps my a$$ big time.