Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Conservatives & Blacks thwart Democrats' good intentions
Elizabeth Williamson of The Washington Post reports today that Democratic Leaders Find House Ethics Bill a Tough Sell:
“With a vote on the bill slated for tomorrow, leading Democrats were fighting yesterday to keep its meatiest remaining piece, a provision unmasking the lobbyists behind bundles of contributions delivered to lawmakers.”
Of course, this being the Washington Post, you just knew that conservatives had to be involved:
“But even that faced significant opposition from conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats and members of the Congressional Black Caucus”
The article cites the following Democrats (listed in order of appearance) in fleshing out the story:
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-Ga.)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.),
Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.),
Rep. Michael E. Capuano (D-Mass.)
Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.)
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md)
Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Mass.)
Of the eight, exactly one of them is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, (coincidentally he is also the only member cited of the other “significant opposition” source: The Congressional Black Caucus): Rep. Sanford Bishop. Here’s how Ms. Williamson described his role:
“…a Black Caucus member tasked with rounding up votes for the bill.”
Elsewhere, reads like Rep. Meehan is also working in support of the bill. Of course Speaker Pelosi and Reps. Van Hollen and Emanuel are part of the leadership and you would think so is Steny Hoyer but… “Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer called the bundling provision "difficult to get to."
The Left’s latest darling and Speaker Pelosi’s personal choice for House Majority Leader, John Murtha, had some encouraging words of support, describing the proposed ethics bill as "total crap”. Further, reliable liberal and Speaker Pelosi’s choice to head up her Speaker transition team, Rep. Capuano, identified this important concern:
“… a "revolving door" provision extending the waiting period before former members can lobby Congress placed unfair limits on his future job options.”
But remember, it’s those damn Blacks and Conservatives that are mucking up the Democrats' chance for ethics’ reform in the House.
“With a vote on the bill slated for tomorrow, leading Democrats were fighting yesterday to keep its meatiest remaining piece, a provision unmasking the lobbyists behind bundles of contributions delivered to lawmakers.”
Of course, this being the Washington Post, you just knew that conservatives had to be involved:
“But even that faced significant opposition from conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats and members of the Congressional Black Caucus”
The article cites the following Democrats (listed in order of appearance) in fleshing out the story:
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-Ga.)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.),
Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.),
Rep. Michael E. Capuano (D-Mass.)
Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.)
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md)
Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Mass.)
Of the eight, exactly one of them is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, (coincidentally he is also the only member cited of the other “significant opposition” source: The Congressional Black Caucus): Rep. Sanford Bishop. Here’s how Ms. Williamson described his role:
“…a Black Caucus member tasked with rounding up votes for the bill.”
Elsewhere, reads like Rep. Meehan is also working in support of the bill. Of course Speaker Pelosi and Reps. Van Hollen and Emanuel are part of the leadership and you would think so is Steny Hoyer but… “Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer called the bundling provision "difficult to get to."
The Left’s latest darling and Speaker Pelosi’s personal choice for House Majority Leader, John Murtha, had some encouraging words of support, describing the proposed ethics bill as "total crap”. Further, reliable liberal and Speaker Pelosi’s choice to head up her Speaker transition team, Rep. Capuano, identified this important concern:
“… a "revolving door" provision extending the waiting period before former members can lobby Congress placed unfair limits on his future job options.”
But remember, it’s those damn Blacks and Conservatives that are mucking up the Democrats' chance for ethics’ reform in the House.
