Alaska Lawmaker Owns Up to "Secret"

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | August 31, 2006 | Rebecca Carr

[308MBR]

Alaska Republican Ted Stevens admitted Wednesday that he used a parlaimentary maneuver to secretly block legislation that would open federal spending practices to public scrutiny.

Stevens used a procedure known as a "secret hold" to derail the legislation, which was introduced by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), said Aaron Saunders, a spokesman for Stevens.

Speculation over who placed the hold on the measure, which would create a searchable database of $2.5 trillion in government contracts, grants, insurance, loans, and financial assistance, has been swirling around Capital Hill as well as the blogosphere.

[kinoxi]

Thank you.

[ASOC]

More election year BS

which would create a searchable database of $2.5 trillion in government contracts, grants, insurance, loans, and financial assistance

data which already exists (but not all in one location) and was covered in a previous post.

As for Ted, his days are numbered, even here in Alaska witness the ousting of Frank.

[highball]

Well well. Here is a major problem for the GOP. The lack of openness and honesty regarding the dispensation of the taxpayers money on the New and Improved Great Society is quite telling.

I agree. I hope the leadership comes down hard on him for this - it makes the entire GOP look bad.

We're about accountability in government. Not them, us. Stevens is giving the Dims a great opportunity to seize our moral high ground in the midterm elections.

[Eva]

Thanks, that clears things up somewhat. Is this payback for the treatment that Stevens got for the bridge to nowhere?

[RKV]

Sheets did not deny he placed the hold. He admitted he put the bill on hold, then recently took off the hold. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/washington/washington/entries/2006/08/31/byrd_admits_he.html

[yellowdoghunter]

We enacted term limits here in Oklahoma a while back and I think it is the best thing we could have done for our state. We need term limits on the federal level. And no life-long benefits when you leave Congress. They can go get a regular job and save for retirement like the rest of us.

[yellowdoghunter]

As for Ted, his days are numbered, even here in Alaska witness the ousting of Frank.

I hope you are correct. The only thing I hate about it is even if he is ousted, we will be paying him for the rest of his life anyway, along with his premium healthcare.

[Paleo Conservative]

Payback for fillibustering ANWAR I guess

Huh? Oklahoma is an oil producing state. If ANWAR is opened up, people in OK, TX, and LA will get lots of jobs in AK. No, it's paybadk for blocking the "bridge to nowhere".

[Gone_Postal]

"POLITICIANS & DIAPERS BOTH NEED

TO BE CHANGED OFTEN, AND FOR THE SAME REASON"

[MadeInAmerica]

We enacted term limits here in Oklahoma a while back and I think it is the best thing we could have done for our state. We need term limits on the federal level. And no life-long benefits when you leave Congress. They can go get a regular job and save for retirement like the rest of us.
_________________________________________________________


That is PERFECTION

[RippyO]

Ted is getting up there. He's old, cranky, and doesn't give a crap about anyone anymore. That sometimes happens when you're close to death.

If he runs against in 2008, I'm gonna be hella pissed. For G-d's sake, even Popes are asked to retire when they reach 80.

[AlexandriaDuke]

The second I heard the story, I figured it was Stevens.

Can anybody stand this guy? Anybody?

[KarlInOhio]

Speculation over who placed the hold on the measure, which would create a searchable database of $2.5 trillion in government contracts, grants, insurance, loans, and financial assistance, has been swirling around Capital Hill as well as the blogosphere.

SELECT * FROM Budget WHERE Project = 'Bridge' AND State = 'AK'

[johnny7]

Ted "Bridge to Nowhere' Stevens...

[conservativecorner]

Ted Stevens is another one of the problems we have in Washington. Sunshine laws are a real pain in the arse, huh Ted?

[Trajan88]

"secret hold?"

I wonder what the "super-secret hold" is used for?

If I found out, black helicopters will be flying about my head I'm sure ;-)

[bordergal]

Term limits don't seem to have helped much in California, given the performance of our legislature.

Maybe keep our legislators on a part time basis, so they don't have so much time to screw things up?

[NorthWoody]

I fully agree. The major roadblock is that we'll be asking these career holders of cushy government offices to make laws saying they've been there too long and must vacate. No more being called "Senator" at the country club. Imagine Chappaquiddick Ted having to endure being called Citizen Kennedy instead of Senator Kennedy? His brain would implode.

The only way it will ever happen is for voters to elect only candidates who favor term limits and for that to go on long enough that those who favor limits will become the majority and enact the legislation. It will take time, but I think it's possible.

No more career office-holders.

[NorthWoody]

When does the annoying pest come up for his "Daschleization"? (My term for "throwing the bum out".)

[Mark was here]

I'm sick of ALL politicians. Term limits is the ONLY way to stop this. 2 Terms MAX for Senate and President, Congress 3 terms. New blood MUST be brought in.

If Senators want to be elected by the people, they should run for office in the House.

We need to return things so that Senators are appointed by the States, this will eliminate Senatorial elections, and give the States a real voice in Washington.