[LisaMalia]

Cantwell (D-Wa) introduced it.

Yeah, that much I've figured out. Maybe you, or someone can help me understand how this works.

The unemployment extension thing has been renewed (every 6 months), without a problem for a couple of years now. Your respective state pays for initial benefits, then the feds pick up the emergency extensions.

When it needed to be renewed in December, it got approved by congress without a hitch. And that's where I kinda lose track of it. I've been researching on the Senate website, and I'm not sure what happened.

I guess I need to take a refresher course in Government, I haven't had one since high school.

Can anyone help me understand how this amendment got tacked on with a gun bill, and why?

Thanks.

[looscnnn]

"Can anyone help me understand how this amendment got tacked on with a gun bill, and why?"

Why, because Cantwell most likely figured that S1805 will pass the Senate and House so she tacked it on hoping that the GOP will go along by being compassionate.

How, I can't remember for sure (been a long time since a Government class), but I believe that someone draws up an amendment just like a bill and then introduces it as a rider/attachment to a bill that is being debated/voted on. This allows something that may not pass by itself to pass while attached to another bill.

Sorry to hear about your unemployment, unfortunately I do not know anyone in Ohio that still has a business that I could refer you to. Good luck in your search.

[No.6]

"Can anyone help me understand how this amendment got tacked on with a gun bill, and why?"

Anyone can amend any bill with anything. (E.g., Feinstein intends to try and attach an extension of the AWB to every bill the Senate touches).

Apparently Cantwell felt that either a) attaching the unemployment extension to the firearms liability bill would hinder its chances of passing, or b) knowing that the amendment would fail, she can run around now and say "See, the Republicans are against your unemployment in the Bush Recession(tm). I stood up for you but the eeeeevil Republicans shut us down." Or something else. Either way, political grandstanding.