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Tag(s): Congress; Filibusters; Funding; Funding; Iraq War; Iraq War; Senate; Senate Minority Leadership
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November 18, 2007 at 08:53:28

Senate GOP Filibusters Farm Bill, Iraq Funds

by Mike Kuykendall Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Make no mistake about it, if the minority party invokes the Rule 22 (the cloture rule) it is a de facto filibuster.

The Senate GOP used it again today to block the farm bill;

The Senate blocked a $286 billion farm bill Friday, a blow to farm-state lawmakers who wanted to give their constituents expanded subsidies before next year's elections.
Though politically popular, the bill stalled in a dispute between the parties over unrelated amendments that Republicans wanted to add. Democrats failed to get the 60 votes they needed to cut off debate on the measure. The final vote was 55-42.

The vote could push consideration of the legislation into 2008 or beyond. Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said Thursday that the bill may fare better after next year's elections, with a new Congress and a new president.

The Bush administration has issued a veto threat against the bill, saying it is too expensive and would pay wealthy farmers too much.

AND $50 billion in much-needed funds for the Iraq War;

Senate Republicans blocked the latest Democratic effort to end the Iraq war, rejecting a $50 billion funding package that would require President Bush to begin withdrawing U.S. troops.

The 53-45 vote fell seven short of the 60 votes needed for the measure to clear Republican procedural hurdles. A GOP alternative, which would have provided $70 billion with no strings attached, failed 45-53, or 15 votes short of the 60-vote threshold.

This makes the 71st cloture motion filed since January 4th. Compare that to the 68 filed from January 4, 2005 through December 9, 2006 and it's clear how far the GOP is pushing this procedural tactic in an attempt to stop Democratic proposals by any means necessary.

http://indigentahole.blogspot.com

Mike Kuykendall is a progressive, patriotic veteran of the U.S. Air Force, fighting hard to save our democracy.

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2 comments

I'm a 29 year old male.
TyI'm a 29 year old male.

Phony Progressive

You're obviously not a real progressive. Real progressives don't support funding the occupation of Iraq. The government shouldn't be subsidizing farmers either.

by Ty (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 868 comments) on Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 10:03:01 PM

Mike Kuykendall is a progressive, patriotic veteran of the U.S. Air Force, fighting hard to save our democracy.
Mike KuykendallMike Kuykendall is a progressive, patriotic veteran of the U.S. Air Force, fighting hard to save our democracy.

Excuse me?

Whether we like it or not more money is going to be required before we can safely bring our troops home. To think Dems will have the balls to go head to head with Bush on war funding prior to an election year, or that even if they did Bush would somehow break his obstinate rhythym of the last seven stubborn years would be ridiculous.

Progressive is a mindset, a political perspective. Pragmatism, the real world situation dictates that we do what we can to shield our troops from Bush's beligerant mindset. I can totally see him keeping our troops in harm's way, underfunded, just to blame it on Congressional Democrats for political gain in '08.

by Mike Kuykendall (36 articles, 60 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 86 comments) on Monday, November 19, 2007 at 10:14:57 PM