Posted on 10/04/2005 6:36:49 AM PDT by OXENinFLA
Since "Free Republic is an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web. We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America.", I and others think it's a good idea to centralize what the goes on in the Senate (or House).
So if you see something happening on the Senate/House floor and you don't want to start a new thread to ask if anyone else just heard what you heard, you can leave a short note on who said what and about what and I'll try and find it the next day in THE RECORD. Or if you see a thread that pertains to the Senate, House, or pretty much any GOV'T agency please link your thread here.
If you have any suggestions for this thread please feel free to let me know.
Here's a few helpful links.
C-SPAN what a great thing. Where you can watch or listen live to most Government happenings.
C-SPAN 1 carries the HOUSE.
C-SPAN 2 carries the SENATE.
C-SPAN 3 (most places web only) carries a variety of committee meetings live or other past programming.
OR FEDNET has online feed also.
A great thing about our Government is they make it really easy for the public to research what the Politicians are doing and saying (on the floor anyway).
THOMAS where you can see a RECORD of what Congress is doing each day. You can also search/read a verbatim text of what each Congressmen/women or Senator has said on the floor or submitted 'for the record.' [This is where the real juicy stuff can be found.]
Also found at Thomas are Monthly Calendars for the Senate Majority and Senate Minority
And Monthly Calendars for the House Majority and Roll Call Votes can be found here.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT (aka The Dept. of Defense)
You took great notes! Thank you.
It's been difficult to stay current on all the news stories today.
They are still in quarium call
But they are replaying Mary's hissy fit
BTW ... Mary is mentioning the Hospitals
I could be wrong .. but aren't most hospital in LA run by the state??
Why does she yell as though she is rebutting someone's comments?
LOL !!.. the picture she's showing to make her point isn't NO ... but says it could be NO
Now she is showing a picture of a guy walking in the water and then says she wouldn't be surprised if he was in the Military
then Mary hits the picture
Mary says in the LA Constitution they are not allowed to borrow money at the Legislation level for operating expenses
it's 20 Million a month for operating expenses in LA
they are about to recess for the night .. Mary is up for 5 minutes to talk
She is going to continue to work through the night to work through the process of getting her state more $$
She is going to let the staff take a break
Mary says they aren't there yet .. but might get there before the scheduled debate is over
Stevens is up .. will recess till 8:15 tomorrow .. they will continue to work on the Defense Spending Bill and votes
That's what I get for going to bed early. I love your recap. I hope they send little Mary home with nothing. What a spoiled brat.
The Landrieu telethon resumed at 8 AM this morning.
So I see. Give me money, that's what I want, lalala.
Ms. LANDRIEU. If the Senator will yield for a question and comment, let me thank my colleague from Louisiana for his extraordinary leadership on this issue. He has been in meetings all week, literally for weeks, as I have, and on the phone with everybody you can talk to. Of course, the time he spent in the House in Louisiana has served him well because he knows how much our needs are. But I want to ask him a few questions because he and I are committed to stay tonight until we get some kind of resolution.The record contains a good summary of the "loan," that Mary Mary wants to turn into a gift. The funds are for operation of State services.Is it the intention of the Senator, the junior Senator from Louisiana, that these loans be in the same line as the current legislation, which gives discretion on the part of the administration to forgive them or not? Or is it the intention of the Senator for us to leave current law and absolutely make it certain, when no one else has been required to do so, that these loans would have to be repaid under all and every circumstance?
Mr. VITTER. Under the proposed legislation I am talking about, there is new language that would tighten up, if you will, the repayment possibilities of these specific loans. It would not change all of the Stafford Act, in terms of this loan program in general. That new language would simply apply to these specific loans.
That language is included in the proposed legislation for a very simple reason, and that reason is that, based on literally dozens of discussions with various folks, including in the House, it is very clear to me, in fact it is crystal clear to me, this will not pass tonight or tomorrow through the process without this language in the legislation. ...
Ms. LANDRIEU. I can appreciate that. If you don't mind me pursuing that line of questioning. I can most certainly appreciate what the junior Senator is saying about the reluctance of the House of Representatives and the administration at this point because I have yet to receive any letter or assurance, but it is right now the House of Representatives that basically would be willing to make loans to the devastated cities in the gulf coast, but would insist that those loans be paid back, when not insisting on that for other loans that have been given to Puerto Rico, and to Florida, and to Alaska, and to other places, which were waived. ...
Mr. VITTER. A couple points: I think this is a very useful exchange because I take it from the Senator's comments that the senior Senator is, in fact, one of the folks who has expressed an objection to this moving forward tonight.
Ms. LANDRIEU. I have not yet expressed an objection, but I am considering it on the grounds--I am not yet expressing objection, but I am considering it, respectfully, having complimented the junior Senator for the great work he has done, because I am hesitant to accept terms of aid that are applied only to us and to no one else, and not because the junior Senator objects or other Senators, but because the House of Representatives, which is in control of the Republican leadership, has decided that the only way that they will amend the law is to force us alone, uniquely, to have to agree to pay it back, when no one else in America, in the past or the future, will be required to do so. That is a hard thing for the senior Senator to agree to, but I am considering it, if maybe that is our only option. ...
Mr. VITTER. Reclaiming my time, I would wonder if the Senator objects to the fact that under this proposal we would also expand in terms of amount and number and capability the ability to get these loans? We are getting more of these loans than anyone in any other situation would have gotten before. I wonder if the Senator would object to that change?
Ms. LANDRIEU. Can I answer that?
Mr. VITTER. No.
Ms. LANDRIEU. Can I answer that?
Mr. VITTER. Again, reclaiming my time, I would simply ask directly if the Senator could either object or not object--let me know--and also help us identify any specific objections that may exist on the minority side.
But in closing, Mr. President, I would just say, again, it is very clear to me, having spent a week working on this, that we either do this today and tomorrow or we do nothing and go home for 10 days and give no relief to these communities and these parishes which so desperately need the help. I vote for doing something. I vote for leading. I vote for helping in a meaningful and concrete way the people of southeast Louisiana and urge all my colleagues to please join me in that effort.
I yield back my time. ...
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to dispense with the calling of the roll.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mr. STEVENS. I object.
Click here: 109th Congress - Senate - October 6, 2005
Navigate to: 11 . DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006--Continued
Mo1---thanks for the running (or in this case crawling) recap of what went on last night...I was watching, but from bed..and didn't feel like posting after getting comfy!!!
cboldt...thanks for posting that exchange between Vitter and Landrieu...I watched it when it happened...the most interesting thing that happened all day yesterday...
What are they doing right now? Are they voting??
Awww geeze, they're in session today?
Yep .. they are trying to get this spending bill passed before they recess
Mary is throwing a hissy fit and holding things up
I hope they stand up to her ... But I don't hold much hope in that
Ever since I turned it on...they have been in a quorum call, until a few minutes ago...
Sen.Domineci gave a speech bemoaning the lack of refineries for gas production...
Also, the Senate passed the Homeland Security Conference report 97-0 by voice vote...
But, NOW, Sen. Dodd is up complaining about the bill!!!
What part of "passed 97-0 by voice vote" doesn't he understand????
BTW...was this the bill that was supposed to have drilling in ANWR budgeted in??
Is she still holding out....or how is she holding things up, if they have already passed the Defense Spending Bill??
Also, did you noticed, it passed 97-0....WITH that stupid amendment that McCain put in re: torture rules..
I heard that the White House would veto the bill, if that were included...however, it still has to go to conference with the House..so I hope the GOP over there, get it taken out...
If not, I would love to see Bush really veto it!!!
I don't know .. I haven't had a chance to watch this morning
I was speaking about last night
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