[antimedia] antimedia: Senate Pork Kings unmasked....

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Posted by antimedia:
Senate Pork Kings unmasked....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1157088501.shtml


   ....Senator Byrd [1]admitted today that he and Senator Stevens of
   Alaska (he of "The Bridge to Nowhere" fame) jointly placed a secret
   hold on the earmark reform bill sponsored by Senators Coburn and
   Obama. Byrd's explanation is classic political doublespeak.

     Byrd merely wanted more time to evaluate the legislation that would
     create a new database of some $2.5 trillion in federal spending on
     contracts, loans, financial assistance and insurance.
     âSenator Byrd wanted time to read the legislation, understand its
     implications, and see whether the proposal could be improved,â
     Gavin said.
     Byrd has released his hold, now that there âhas been time to better
     understand the legislation,â Gavin said.
     âSenator Byrd believes that the bill should be debated and opened
     for amendment, and not pushed through without discussion,â Gavin
     said.
     âThere was an effort to pass a bill on an important subject without
     debate just before the Senate recess,â Gavin said. Senators have an
     obligation to their constituents to know what they are voting on
     before signing off on any proposal, he said.

   If you believe that, I have some swampland I'd like to sell you.
   In reality, Byrd and Stevens were overwhelmed by a concentrated effort
   by bloggers and others to uncover the culprits and embarrass them.
   Senator Byrd is the master of pork, as anyone with even a passing
   knowledge of Congress is aware. He's also a master politician and
   understood full well the dangers of holding out much longer. So he
   worded his explanation for his devious behavior to place himself in
   the best possible light. "I was just protecting the American people
   from possibly bad legislation."
   Sure you were, Senator. The reason every road, rest stop and bridge in
   West Virginia is named after you is because you've been such a
   champion for the people. Heh. (Hat tip to [2]memeorandum.)

References

   1. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/washington/washington/entries/2006/08/31/byrd_admits_he.html
   2. http://www.memeorandum.com/060831/p91#a060831p91