US/Congress/110

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Overview

The Democrat-led 110th session of the US Congress was elected in 2006 as part of a backlash against the abuses of the "do-nothing" Republican-led 109th US Congress and the corruption in the Bush administration. However, they largely failed to do the duty for which they were elected, i.e. defending the US Constitution by investigating, exposing, and ousting (via impeachment and other legal means) the de-facto neoconservative coup spearheaded by that administration, and have mostly been seen promoting acts of appeasement to the global terrorists now in charge of the US government. (Conservatives like to accuse liberals of favoring "appeasement of terrorists", but oddly they never mention it in this one case where they would actually seem to be correct.)

Actions

  • 2007-08-05 House OKs taxes on oil companies: "Declaring a new direction in energy policy, the House on Saturday approved $16 billion in taxes on oil companies, while providing billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives for renewable energy and conservation efforts. .. Republican opponents said the legislation ignored the need to produce more domestic oil, natural gas and coal. One GOP lawmaker bemoaned 'the pure venom ... against the oil and gas industry.'." Well, you know, "duhhh..." Of course people are upset at the oil industry, and on our continued dependence on non-renewables – a status quo the industry generally fights very hard to maintain.
  • 2007-08-03 Senate Roll Call: Terrorism Surveillance: "The 60-28 roll call by which the Senate voted to temporarily give President Bush expanded authority to eavesdrop on foreign terrorists without court warrants. ... Voting "yes" were 16 Democrats, 43 Republicans and 1 independent. Voting "no" were 27 Democrats, 0 Republicans and 1 independent."

Filibusters

The Republican minority have so far blocked the following actions, by stating intent-to-filibuster:

  • 2007-01-17: Reid Amendment to Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007: Senator Harry Reid's bill to provide greater transparency in the legislative process.
  • 2007-01-24: Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007: a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.
  • 2007-02-05: A bill to express the sense of Congress on Iraq: disapproving of the troop escalation in Iraq.
  • 2007-02-17: A bill to express the sense of Congress on Iraq: disapproving of the troop escalation in Iraq (again).
  • 2007-04-17: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007: an original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for the intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Intelligence Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes.
  • 2007-04-18: Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007: a bill to amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for fair prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries.
  • 2007-06-11: No confidence vote on Alberto Gonzales: a joint resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales no longer holds the confidence of the Senate and of the American people.
  • 2007-06-21: Baucus Amendment to CLEAN Energy Act of 2007: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for energy advancement and investment, and for other purposes.
  • 2007-06-26: Employee Free Choice Act of 2007: A bill to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes.
  • 2007-07-11: Webb Amendment to the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2008: to specify minimum periods between deployment of units and members of the Armed Forces for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Links

Reference

Filed Links

Related


Campaigns

To File

Humor

  • 2007-08-07 I Drew This (cartoon with commentary): cowardly caving