Anti-pork bill held up in secret

GopUSA ^ | August 29, 2006 | By UPI Staff

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- The big mystery in Washington this summer is the identity of the lawmaker who put a secret hold on a sunshine bill aimed at stemming pork-barrel spending.

Efforts to smoke out the obstructer is taking place on a Web site called Porkbusters.org, which so far has cleared about a quarter of the Senate from suspicion, the Washington Times reports.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

The measure being held up would create a searchable database allowing any interested party to see the name and amount of every federal grant, contract or award of $25,000 or more.

Holds are an unofficial part of Senate parliamentary tradition that allow a single senator to block a measure anonymously.

[Sunshine Sister]

This is just wrong. It's high time the entire workings of the senate (disrespect intended) come under the light of day. Those jerks need to be held accountable.

[KarlInOhio]

Enough with government secrecy. Other than security matters there should be no secrecy in Congress. If it is important enough for a Senator to put a hold on a bill, then he should stand proudly and publicly brag about his actions. But whichever Senator(s) did this know that his actions are best hidden from the American people like some type of cockroach.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://porkbusters.org/

Above URL is not bad.

[CT-Freeper]

Anybody taking bets on if this Senator is a (D), (R) or (I)?

[eraser2005]

I'll put my vote in for Ted Stevens (R-AK) as the culprit

[pointsal]

My guess is that a bunch of them (Senators) did it.

Now, it is like rolling thunder or one of Kerry's flip/flops.

Senator "x" was for it, then switched to opposing it.

The citizens need a "youtube" posting of their reponses!

[dynamite98]

Isn't Congress always first to point the finger at the executive for not being transparent??? If this catches steam, it won't spell good for some in a couple months.

[LIConFem]

Whew! When I first read the headline, I thought this was some attempt by Muzzzzzzlims to outlaw pork here in the US.

I was about to start hoarding bacon.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

LOL, not my headline.

[saganite]

Rush mentioned this yesterday. If they smoke this guy or gal out and they are running for reelection this cycle they are toast.

[saganite]

He was the first one I thought of as well.

[Sunshine Sister]

I wonder........does the I stand of illegal? No need to answer. I know, just had to comment!!!

[camas]

W VA Rockefeller????(sp)

[r9etb]

The measure being held up would create a searchable database allowing any interested party to see the name and amount of every federal grant, contract or award of $25,000 or more.

If that's the case, and "every" really means every, then I'd say the hold is justified. There are some contracts and awards that are better left secret.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://rules.senate.gov/senaterules/standingrules.txt

Above URL is the "complete" Senate rules.

I am trying to find the rule.

[Wings-n-Wind]

"Sheets" Byrd... IMHO

[TomGuy]

LOL

Senator Stevens was the first one to come to mind here, too. After his wailing and crying in the Senate Well last year over his bridges to nowhere, he would be my first suspect.

[TomGuy]

from Today's Toons 8/29/06