I was reading Wonkette this morning, and noticed this post about pork, specifically, Senate Bill 2590 which would "require full disclosure of all entities and organizations receiving Federal funds". That sounds like a good idea to me, until we learned that one Senator has a secret hold on the bill. That hold stops the movement on the bill, regardless of the wishes of the rest of the Senate.
I called my Senators. Senator David Vitter, (R-LA) staffers tell me that Senator Vitter is a cosponsor of the bill and does not have a secret hold on it. He supports the bill.
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) could not be reached for comment. She is on a tour of the damaged areas of Louisiana and is busy leading that tour and trying to drum up support for our damaged state. Her staff tells me that they don't have any idea if she is for or against transparency in government and they don't know if she has a hold on the bill.
How about that? Senator Landrieu's staff doesn't know if she is for or against transparency in government. That is quite a statement. Perhaps Mary should go over that during the next staff meeting.
UPDATE: Wonkette reports that Mary Landrieu isn't the one holding the bill. It is interesting that her staff doesn't know that when called by a constituent.
Not being from LA myself and knowing almost nothing about either of your Senators, MY guess is your experience is probably demonstrative of each Senator's competence.
ReplyDeleteLandrieu's staff didn't have a clue because their boss didn't have a clue. Just like those who think the government can & will protect and care for them, so they don't have to be responsible for themselves.
After the Second Revolution, in the Second Republic, the Senate won't have any secret holds.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, riverdog. The "Second Revolution" will probably come in late 2007 when the "buck stops here" man refuses to relinquish his office when the people elect a Democrat.
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