Friday, November 03, 2006
Things that "happen" in conference committee
An article in today's New York Times shows what can happen to a bill in the U.S. Congress on its way to becoming law. This could be the telecom bill . . . and it's not even Lame Duck time yet.
The article says that the public has just become aware of a surprise in the Military Appropriations Act, passed by Congress and signed into law some two weeks ago. The surprise provision eliminates the Office of Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who followed the bill closely because she chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, "still does not know how the provision made tis way into what is called the conference report, which reconciles differences between House and Senate versions of a bill."
The article continues, "Neither the House nor the Senate version contained such a termination clause before the conference, all involved agree." Senator Collins told the NYT, "I looked at what I thought was the final version of the conference report, and that provision was not in at that time."
Neither Collins nor Senator Warner (R-VA), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, had any idea where the provision came from. The article goes on to pin the blame on the staff of Duncan Hunter (R-CA), who chairs the House Armed Services Committee.
Nice Work, Representative Hunter. Your actions cheapen congress and pervert the practice of representative democracy.
Let's watch the telecom bill carefully. The law might not bear any resemblance to the current House or Senate versions.
The article says that the public has just become aware of a surprise in the Military Appropriations Act, passed by Congress and signed into law some two weeks ago. The surprise provision eliminates the Office of Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who followed the bill closely because she chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, "still does not know how the provision made tis way into what is called the conference report, which reconciles differences between House and Senate versions of a bill."
The article continues, "Neither the House nor the Senate version contained such a termination clause before the conference, all involved agree." Senator Collins told the NYT, "I looked at what I thought was the final version of the conference report, and that provision was not in at that time."
Neither Collins nor Senator Warner (R-VA), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, had any idea where the provision came from. The article goes on to pin the blame on the staff of Duncan Hunter (R-CA), who chairs the House Armed Services Committee.
Nice Work, Representative Hunter. Your actions cheapen congress and pervert the practice of representative democracy.
Let's watch the telecom bill carefully. The law might not bear any resemblance to the current House or Senate versions.
Technorati Tags: Democracy, Politics, Telco
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