Reform Feud Cools (Harry Reid Takes a Dive and Is Fuming!)

thehill.com ^ | 1/18/07 | Elana Schor

[beyond the sea]

The Senate yesterday cooled down a partisan conflagration over the breadth of earmark reform in its lobbying and ethics bill, voting unanimously to adopt an amendment strengthening earmark disclosure rules offered by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) with modifications from Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

DeMint’s amendment would require members to attach their names to earmarks appearing in report language as well as bill text, would expand the definition of a targeted tax benefit, and would ensure earmarks sent through federal entities are covered by the disclosure standard. Democratic leaders initially sought to quash DeMint’s bid after 10 majority members crossed over to vote against tabling the amendment last Thursday, but DeMint ultimately struck an agreement to pass Durbin’s modifications.

The Senate is set to vote today to invoke cloture on a substitute amendment strengthening the ethics bill’s gift and travel curbs offered by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who aims to vote on the underlying legislation by Friday.

[beyond the sea]

Harry Reid was once a boxer?

Yes, I was very surprised too about the boxing. But, I must say, it gives me a certain respect for him. Boxing is one tough sport.

****

Reid's self-effacing style belies his strategic political abilities. He has said that growing up among miners taught him how to settle things with a fight if need be. He was a middleweight boxer in high school and has admitted to getting "called out" a time or two for an old-fashioned fist fight.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/108th/bio_reid.html

****