Daschle's Democrat Senate: A Record of Inaction and Failure

[Alex P. Keaton]

DASCHLE'S DEMOCRAT SENATE:

A RECORD OF INACTION AND FAILURE

Daschle's Democrats Fail To Act On Homeland Security And Prescription Drug Coverage, Still Have No Budget 

______________________________________

DASCHLE AND THE DEMOCRAT SENATE REFUSED

TO ALLOW A VOTE ON HOMELAND SECURITY

PRESIDENT BUSH PROVIDED VISION: President Bush Proposed A Department Of Homeland Security.  "The Department of Homeland Security will be charged with four primary tasks. This new agency will control our borders and prevent terrorists and explosives from entering our country. It will work with state and local authorities to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. It will bring together our best scientists to develop technologies that detect biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, and to discover the drugs and treatments to best protect our citizens. And this new department will review intelligence and law enforcement information from all agencies of government, and produce a single daily picture of threats against our homeland."  (President Bush, Speech To The Nation, June 6, 2002)

THE HOUSE ACTED:  Exactly One Month After President Bush Proposed The Department, The House Enacted Legislation Creating It.  (H.R. 5005, Roll Call #367: Approved 295-132: R 207-10; D 88-120; I 0-2, July 26, 2002)

THE SENATE FAILED:  Despite Broad, Bipartisan Support, The Senate Did Not Act.    

• Senator Daschle Supports The Homeland Security Department: "Daschle had said repeatedly that he hoped to bring up the legislation before the [August] recess . . ."  (Bill Miller and Helen Dewar, "Senate To Delay Voting On Homeland Department," The Washington Post, July 30, 2002)

• Senator Lieberman Supports The Homeland Security Department: Senator Lieberman said not passing Homeland Security legislation was a "serious mistake," and warned "every day's delay 'is another day of danger.'"  (Jackie Calmes, "Sen. Byrd Will Stall Security Bill, But Eventual Passage Is Likely," The Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2002)

• Representative Gephardt Supports The Homeland Security Department:  "I have said many times I think our goal should be September 11^th to complete the legislation."  (Representative Gephardt, Press Conference, June 20, 2002)

IT WASN'T EVEN BROUGHT TO A VOTE BECAUSE SENATOR BYRD OBJECTED:  Calling The Bipartisan Measure Unconstitutional And A "Monstrosity," Senator Byrd Single-Handedly Stalled Homeland Security.  "This legislation would emasculate certain portions of this Constitution which I hold in my hand."  Byrd called the Homeland Security Department "a massive monstrosity."  Byrd "All but single-handedly" stalled the measure until after Labor Day.  (Senator Byrd, Congressional Record, July 31, 2002; David Firestone, "For Homeland Security Bill, A Brakeman," The New York Times, July 31, 2002)

Senator Byrd Earlier Had Insisted That The U.S. Speed-Up Its Anti-Terrorism Plans, But Now Is Calling For A Slowdown.  In December, Byrd said: " . . .  bin Laden and his ilk are not sitting around saying to one another, 'Well, let's wait until next spring.'  They're not thinking like that.  Why are we?"  This week, Byrd urged the Senate: "Let's slow down!  Let's slow down!  Let's slow down this legislation.  I'm not saying I'm against it, but what's the rush?  What's the rush?"  (Karen Masterson, "Defense Bill Nearing Showdown," The Houston Chronicle, December 6, 2001; Senator Byrd, Congressional Record, July 31, 2002)

 DASCHLE AND THE DEMOCRAT SENATE HAVE FAILED

TO PROVIDE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE

 

PRESIDENT BUSH PROVIDED VISION: Last July, President Bush Proposed Prescription Drug Benefits For Seniors.  "These are principles which will strengthen one of our nation's most sacred obligations, the health of our senior citizens. We'll protect seniors now, offering exciting new services and more choices to seniors in the future, and guarantee prescription drug coverage. . . . That's my administration's commitment today, and its exciting new vision for health care in America."  (President George W. Bush, Remarks by the President on Medicare, July 12, 2001)

THE HOUSE ACTED:  The House Approved A Prescription Drug Measure.  (H.R. 4954, Roll Call #282: Passed 221-208: R 212-8; D 8-199; I 1-1, June 28, 2002)

DASCHLE  "DASHED THE HOPES FOR NEW PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE TO HELP OLDER AMERICANS . . ."  Daschle Could Not Get Any One Of Four Bills Through The Senate.  "The Senate yesterday dashed the hopes for new prescription drug coverage to help older Americans this year . . . for the fourth time in eight days, the Senate failed to agree on the broader goal of subsidizing drug costs for the elderly."  (Amy Goldstein and Helen Dewar, "Drug Plans For Seniors Defeated," The Washington Post, August 1, 2002)

SENATE DEMOCRATS PROMISED A DRUG BENEFIT BUT FAILED TO DELIVER:  " . . .  the foundering of proposals to provide drug coverage for older people marked a failure of the Democratic-led Senate to deliver on a top objective."  (Amy Goldstein and Helen Dewar, "Drug Plans For Seniors Defeated," The Washington Post, August 1, 2002)

DASCHLE AND THE DEMOCRAT SENATE

HAVE FAILED TO PASS A BUDGET

 

PRESIDENT BUSH PROVIDED VISION:  President Bush Proposed A Budget In February.  (President Bush, "The Budget Message Of The President," February 4, 2002)

THE HOUSE ACTED:  Within One Month, The House Approved A Budget.  (H Con. Res. 353, Roll Call #79: Approved 221-209: R 219-2; D 1-206; I 1-1, March 20, 2002)

THE SENATE FAILED:  The Senate's Version Of The Budget Has Languished Since April.  (S.Res. 100, Approved By Budget Committee, April 11, 2002)

DASCHLE'S EXCUSES DON'T WASH:  Senator Daschle Blames The Budget Shortcoming On His Party's Razor-Thin Majority, But Republicans Passed A Budget In 2001 When The Senate Was Evenly Split.  "Well, we're going to have a budget plan that constrains spending. That will happen. But obviously we're in a divided Senate and a very, very close membership count. And this has not been easy."  (NBC's "Meet The Press," May 26, 2002; H.Con.Res. 83, Roll Call #86: Passed 65-35: R 50-0; D 15-35, April 6, 2001)
 

 

[Alex P. Keaton]

Bush bump.

[A2J]

Daschle's Democrats Fail To Act On Homeland Security And Prescription Drug Coverage

Ahem, excuse me, but I thought conservatives were or should be opposed to the Homeland Security Act AND prescription drug coverage.

Sounds like that's the kind of "inaction" that we should want from government.

[mwl1]

Bush bump

[Seeking the truth]

Good post! Here's a brand new, ink is still wet 0cents Stamp that I just introduced today!

Profile of a Bush Hater 0cents Stamp

[w_over_w]

Alex,

Excellent post . . . please add me to your "Bush bump" list. Thanks

<><

[NC Conservative]

This legislation would emasculate certain portions of this Constitution

I have linked Byrd's Constitution

Byrd's Constitution

[Pagey]

I do hope (actually Pray)The President will use the above examples to portray "The Dasschle" as the piece of manipulative partisan debris that he truly is.I can only imagine how much "Pork" he gets for his state, because I can't imagine any other reason that he gets re-elected.

[Digger]

You have it figured out. Again there is really NO differenc in this "Two-Party Cartel". If one wants red the other wants blue. Next election they will switch. Bottom line is BOTH will take your money, one fation wants it today the other next week.But for them they want theirs immediately.