Posted on 02/01/2006 6:09:12 AM PST 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)
Bin Laden said, "You will see the enemy in your home." McConnel points out the obvious, the enemy is -IN- our country, right now. McConnel cites the Faris case (Brooklyn Bridge guy) who is a US citizen. The Faris case is cited as a success of warrantless wiretapping.
This is all driven by the front page NY Times article today..
What is going on with Durbin and Specter?
Oh Gee .. Durbin is playing lawyer on the floor now
yes
The trial lawyers are upset because they won't get more money from the trust fund
Yes...Durbin is lining up with Reid and Kennedy...saying that the Reps are on the take by the corporations to settle this asbestos thing...
BUT, there was an article in the NYTimes today, (I guess), that says that the group NOT wanting this settlement is putting out hugh amounts of $$$$ just to defeat it...
I heard yesterday (maybe Rush)...that the lawyers (who Durbin, Reid and Kennedy are in the pocket of)...were set to get a HUGH amount of money 60 BILLION?, but this new agreement knocks that amount down..to where the lawyers only get 5%...the actual victims 95%...
Don't quote me on this...I am just "remembering" what I heard yesterday...I haven't been able to listen much this morning to the Senate.
I know. They talk about Specter and business writing the bill but not saying how the trial lawyers are lobbying them.
BTW..did you see what's on C-span 3 at 2pm? McCain and Feingold on lobbying reform.
I am hoping...that, after Gonzalez' testimony on Monday...the ones that are handling this for the White House WILL see that their best bet is the Constitutional option...and just stick with it...
Partly, because if the dems claim to loudly that there is nothing in the Constitution that spells out the right of the POTUS or CIC to do this....
then Bush and Company can say that there is nothing in the Constitution that gives a woman "the right to privacy", let alone the right to an abortion.
In the first six months of 2005 alone, more than 25 lobbying firms reported fees of more than $8 million for working on the asbestos legislation, according to Political Money Line, a nonpartisan research group that studies reports filed with Congress by lobbyists and their clients.
The largest chunk, $4.7 million, went to the Washington law firm of Swidler Berlin from the Asbestos Study Group, an organization of companies advancing the legislation. All told, Swidler has received more than $23 million representing the Asbestos Study Group. Its team is led by Thurgood Marshall Jr., a former White House official in the Clinton administration and Brian Fitzgerald, a former counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The other lobbyists listed in the most recent disclosure filings represent an array of makers and users of asbestos, insurers, trial lawyers and venture funds, which are placing bets on the winners and losers of the legislative battle.
The legislation has been opposed by a significant group of small and large companies, including Exxon Mobil, the American International Group, Allstate and BorgWarner, as well as labor unions and trial lawyers. A group of companies opposed to the legislation, known as the Coalition for Asbestos Reform, has a budget of another $3 million not mentioned in the earlier disclosure reports, according to an internal memo of the group that was made public on Tuesday by The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/08/politics/08asbestos.html
I just wonder how "holier than thou" McCain and Feingold are gonna get in that hearing??
I just think that this is two men running for POTUS that want to have a national forum to point fingers AWAY from themselves.
I think it's going to be fun. I hope Osama Obama is there.
WHOA....LOL...it sounds like the amount I put in my previous post should have been "millions"...not "billions"...
Thanks for that link...
:-)
It sounds like Cornyn has some serious concerns about this bill as well. He's making a reasonable argument that the fund amount is way too low.
I am watching him....and I posted on a thread about this...that I was going to call and tell my Senators NOT to vote for this bill...
I am hoping that by his speech today..Cornyn will NOT vote for it...and if he doesn't, hopefully, KBH (who, I am sure would defer to him knowledge wise)...will follow suit.
Cute as a button up now..
WOW..Cornyn then Sessions...great!
Nice combo. I agree with Sessions that they way this asbestos litigation has been and is being handled is a travesty. Many of the cases have been tried right across the river in Illinois where it is a virtual industry for the benefit of trial lawyers because of the propensity of the juries to grant huge awards. However, this bill sounds pretty bad. One of my least favorite parts is a brand new 700 person bureau to "manage" this thing which, as Cornyn notes, will NEVER go away.
Unfortunately, Sessions makes some good points for passing it..
Cornyn mentioned a few amendments...and I don't know if they are the kind of amendments that are likely to pass or not...so he may be HOPING but not counting on it...
Sessions also mentioned amendments but, like Cornyn didn't elaborate.
This is complicated, yet fascinating...and, under 99.99% of American's radar...scary, huh?
I just know that I trust Sessions and Cornyn and in a way, Coburn, more than anyone else...(don't know how Allen feels, or knows about this)...and if THEY differ...I am in trouble as far as figuring out how I feel..because it is so complicated.
I DO KNOW that I don't want the weasley lawyers to make out like bandits...and I don't like people that aren't entitled, getting compensation because of the weasely lawyers.
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