I Don’t Hate America!

Today in Congress, the House of Representatives has under its consideration H.R. 3161, a bill dealing with agriculture spending. Having already passed the policy-centered Farm Bill last week, H.R 3161 would appropriate $91 billion on agriculture.

For about the past three hours the House has been debating an amendment offered by Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) which would reduce the appropriation by $50,000 to the office of the Secretary of Agriculture.

Almost immediately the Democrats announced they would accept the amendment. Regardless of the non-controversial nature of the amendment, the House Republicans have used this time to debate State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) appropriations which will likely be brought to the House floor later this week.

Yes, during debate on an amendment about agriculture, they are talking about health care.

Much like common friggin’ sense would dictate, House rules state that debate must be germane to the subject under consideration, and Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) has reminded members of this rule countless times. One bloviating member in particular, Rep. John Shaddeg (R-AZ), didn’t like that the rule was applied to him and moved to appeal the decision of the chair.

Ugh.

Members are now in the middle of a roll call vote on this!

“Considering the cost of the clerk, air conditioning, and lights to keep this place open we have spent more money to hear this rhetoric than what is saved in this amendment,” Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI), House Appropriations Chairman, said.

House Republicans today are doing nothing today but grandstanding on the taxpayer’s dime. It’s downright shameful that a party which touts “fiscal responsibility!!!” like an ice-cream man would tout “soft serve cones with sprinkles!!!” would do this.

And according to all the conservative talking heads, it’s the DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP’S fault that nothing is getting done in Congress? Spare me that song and dance, please!

If I were there I would rise and move the previous question.

Someday. Hee hee.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 at 6:17 pm and is filed under Dave Obey, SCHIP, Farm Bill, Agriculture, Healthcare, Congress, DJ D.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.