Senate Coverage -- (March '06)

Thank you for posting that....

You're welcome. :)

I love how these Senators want to flex their muscles when it comes to telling the POTUS what he should do...

But, they have a problem keeping their own house in order...

Coleman says Bush has a "tin ear"?? I contend that Congress' tin ear towards their constituents is MUCH more damaging to this country.

AND...why do these REPUBLICAN congressweinies insist on publicly bitchin about President Bush without even talking to him personally FIRST????

Did any of you watch Brit's show last night...and the breakdown of how WELL the Medicare Prescription Drug Program is polling (I know, polls, ugh)....

And that the cost estimates have been scaled DOWN from what they were???

Wouldn't it be amazing that that "boondoggle" of a bill...turned out not to be so bad after all???

My guess is Norm wants a pat on the head from the President and if he can't get his attention by being good he'll be bad and get his attention.

Wouldn't it be amazing that that "boondoggle" of a bill...turned out not to be so bad after all???

I was absolutely opposed to this thing (no surprise, I oppose almost all government programs :) but I have to say this may not be the awful thing I thought it was, and it certainly is not the horrible mess the dems are making it out to be.

Senate Somnambulism - March 14, 2006

Since there was a "What is Coleman up to?" question floating around, first a bit of history and recent news regarding the Senator from Minnesota, with a segue into how the ANWR issue may play in the Budget matter.

DEEP FRIED, BATTER DIPPED MINNESOTA STATE FAIR POLITICS
By Bennett Gordon - 10.06.05
The rising star of Minnesota's Republican Party is Senator Norm Coleman. A one-time Democrat, Norm switched over to the Republicans only to lose to Jesse "the Body" Ventura. After that defeat, he met presidential advisor Karl Rove who convinced Norm to run against anti-war, pro-choice Senator Paul Wellstone. Senator Wellstone died in a plane crash near the end of the campaign, and Coleman won the election by a narrow margin. ...
Senator Coleman has a stand set up right by the Mini Doughnuts. Decorating his tent are photos that try to display a folksy side of Senator Coleman, showing him out in a boat holding up a large fish. You have to actually read the pamphlets to learn that Senator Norm Coleman is from Brooklyn.
http://www.blacktable.com/gordon051006.htm
Senator Calls for New White House Team
FoxNews - Tuesday, March 14, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Saying the White House has been afflicted by a political "tin ear," Sen. Norm Coleman on Tuesday called on President Bush to bring in a new team.
"I have some concerns about the team that's around the president," said Coleman, a Minnesota Republican with close ties to Bush. "I think you need to take a look at it."
Coleman cited the White House's handling of the response to Hurricane Katrina, the failed nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court and the now-scuttled plans for Dubai-based DP World to take over terminals at six major U.S. seaports.
"All of a sudden we're hearing the phrase 'tin ear,"' Coleman said in a telephone interview. "That's a phrase you shouldn't hear. The fact that you're hearing it says that the kind of political sensitivity, the ear-to-the-ground that you need in the White House, isn't there at the level that it needs to be." ...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,187897,00.html
Coleman to vote against budget bill that includes ANWR
FREDERIC J. FROMMER - Associated Press - Mar. 14, 2006
WASHINGTON - Sen. Norm Coleman says that he will vote against a budget resolution this week if it includes a provision that authorizes oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
"This is yet another attempt by drilling proponents to slip ANWR drilling through the Senate after they failed to do so in last year's budget process," Coleman, R-Minn., said in a statement. "Enough is enough, Congress has spoken on ANWR. It's time to put this issue to rest."
Last week, Coleman was one of five Senate Republicans to warn Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H., that they would probably oppose his budget plan on the floor if it includes a provision to permit ANWR drilling to advance via the filibuster-proof budget process. ...
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/14098239.htm
AP - Wed Dec 21st 2005 at 9:22 pm ET
Five Republicans defected on the deficit-cutting votes, including Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Mike DeWine of Ohio, Gordon Smith of Oregon and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island. Snowe, Chafee and DeWine face re-election next year. Also in opposition were all 44 Democrats and Sen. James Jeffords, the Vermont independent.
http://www.political-news.org/topic/olympia-snowe/
http://www.political-news.org/...senate-defeats-anwr-drilling-saves-cuts.html
Coleman confirms commitment to vote down ANWR
December 22nd, 2005
This evening, I once again lived up to my commitment to prohibit drilling in ANWR. By voting to strip the ANWR provision from this legislation, Senators, such as myself, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Gordon Smith, who have adamantly opposed drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, are now able to vote in favor of final passage of the DOD appropriations bill."
ANWR STRIPPED FROM DOD BUDGET BILL (Press Release)
RMSP WANTS ANWR DRILLING KEPT OUT OF 2007 BUDGET RESOLUTION
March 2, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Republican Main Street Partnership has joined RMSP colleague Rep. Nancy Johnson in opposing any effort to include drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge in the fiscal year 2007 budget resolution. More than two dozen House Members, primarily from Main Street, joined Rep. Johnson in signing a letter to House Budget Chairman Jim Nussle in which they "welcome debate on the (ANWR) issue of opening the Refuge," but "believe that the budget resolution is an inappropriate vehicle to spur such discussion." ...
http://www.republicanmainstreet.org/News/283.htm

And now semi-random selections from the Congressional Record.

Mr. SANTORUM introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence
To require the Director of National Intelligence to release documents captured in Afghanistan or Iraq during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation Iraqi Freedom
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.+2408:
"Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2005" or the "U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2005."
Mr. SMITH (for himself, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. INOUYE, and Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. BURNS, and Mr. PRYOR) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To enhance Federal Trade Commission enforcement against illegal spam, spyware, and cross-border fraud and deception, and for other purposes.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.+1608:
"Engine Coolant and Antifreeze Bittering Agent Act of 2005"
Mr. ALLEN (for himself, Mr. PRYOR, Mr. SANTORUM, Mr. STEVENS, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. WARNER, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. ENSIGN, Mr. DOMENICI, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. INOUYE, and Mr. BAUCUS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To amend the Federal Hazardous Substances Act to require engine coolant and antifreeze to contain a bittering agent in order to render the coolant or antifreeze unpalatable.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.+1110:
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, briefly, I wish to speak to another issue, an issue that relates to an anniversary that will occur on March 16. On March 16, 18 years ago, Saddam Hussein launched one of the most brutal and indiscriminate attacks against his own people. On that day, a group of eight Iraqi aircraft began dropping chemical munitions on the town of Halabja in northern Iraq. According to Kurdish commanders on the scene, the planes made multiple passes before their gruesome task was complete. ...
More than 5,000 people were killed and another 10,000 were injured. ... To see the images of the heaps of lifeless bodies and mothers still clutching their babies is to see a waking nightmare.
6 . HALABJA ANNIVERSARY -- (Senate - March 14, 2006)
Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, this amendment, as the Senator from New Jersey mentioned at the end, raises taxes. It raises the cap, so it spends a lot more money. And in the context of overall port security, although it makes a statement, it is not necessarily going to do a whole lot more than what we are doing already.
There is, of course, because of the Dubai Ports World situation, a human cry for more port security. We have attempted over the last few years to try to address port security, and there is still a lot more to do. But there has been a very large commitment to port security, and there has been a lot done. Over $10 billion has been committed to port security since 9/11. By next year, 2007, 85 percent of all cargo coming into the United States will be screened. We have in place at the 42 largest shipping ports that ship to the United States significant infrastructure which actually checks the cargo that is going on those ships. ...
A lot of this port grant money, on the other hand, which goes to the port that is in place, that goes to the facility on American soil, is ending up, unfortunately--maybe not so much going to--it is going to security needs, but it is going to security needs which traditionally would have been paid for by the managers of these ports. Basically what they are doing is they are taking the Federal grant money, and instead of building a fence, which they should have built anyway and they needed anyway, or instead of building major lighting which they needed and should have put in place anyway out of their own funds, they are replacing those funds with Federal dollars and using Federal dollars to do what they should have done anyway. So there is an issue there as to whether we are getting the most bang for the buck through the Port Security Grant Program. ...
The Senator from New Jersey is suggesting that we should physically inspect every cargo container coming into the United States. We don't physically inspect every car that comes across our border. We don't physically inspect every individual who comes across our border, or every piece of luggage that comes across our border. And there is a reason for that. It is called: You can't do it and still have an economy that is going to function.
What we do, however, is set up a very aggressive regime at these various ports around the world that are shipping to us, especially the major ports where we check for what we think is the most threatening potential cargo, which we all know what it is. And we are expanding that regime out beyond those shipping ports to the actual place where the containers are filled and putting in place certification programs which are reviewed and which have on-the-ground inspection capability.

Mr. GREGG. I will yield 2 minutes off my time, even though I disagree vociferously with their position, but out of the kindness of my heart, I yield a minute to the Senator from New York, the senior Senator from New York, so they can make their case, which is only worth about 2 minutes, anyway.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, first I thank my colleague from New Hampshire. He is a tough old New Englander, but he has a heart of gold, even when he is wrong on the merits.
Mr. President, I salute my colleague from New Jersey for offering this amendment. It says one thing loudly and clearly. Even though, as we hope and believe, the Dubai Ports World deal is now scuttled as far as American ports, we have miles and miles to go on port security. This is not new to this Chamber. I have introduced amendment after amendment. I know my colleague from Washington, PATTY MURRAY, and the Senator from Maine, SUSAN COLLINS, and others have all tried to do more for port security. This amendment does much of the job. We have to inspect more than 5 percent of the containers. We need a crash research project so we can develop devices that can scan for nuclear or biological or chemical weapons. We need our ports to have employees who cannot forge documents and get a job for bad purposes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has consumed the 1 minute given to him by the Senator from New Hampshire.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this amendment will provide funding for maritime security, including the container security initiative, improved data for targeted cargo searches, and, most important for purposes of this amendment, full background checks and security threat assessments of personnel at our Nation's seaports. It makes no sense to be obsessed with what is in the containers and ignore those in our own ports who will handle the containers. ...
So I repeat, unless we are certain of the individuals who are handling this cargo at our own seaports here in the United States, we clearly have not done the job. This amendment provides $978 million to initiate an enhanced maritime security. Of that amount, $728 million is provided as recommended by the Commerce Committee for maritime security in S. 1052, the Transportation Security Act, and another $250 million is provided to fund these background checks that I was just talking about of the people in our ports who are handling the cargo, the security of which and the contents of which we have all indicated we are so concerned about. The cost of this amendment is offset within the budget's overall discretionary allocation.

Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, I am astonished that there is any disagreement about the need for increased funding for the Byrne grants. This is one of the critical programs we fund through the Congress. I am amazed, as my colleague from Georgia said, that last year the amendment we passed together, which the Senate passed unanimously, was then basically gutted entirely in the conference committee at the insistence of the House and the administration. And, in fact, the funding for the Byrne grant program for this year is cut by one-fourth from what it was the previous year. ...
We talk of the need to protect this country from terrorists. I support that as strongly as anyone. We have terrorists operating on the streets of Minnesota and I suspect through this country every day. They are drug-dealing terrorists.
The methamphetamine epidemic which is plaguing my State--small communities, large cities, rural, urban, everywhere, drugs that I am told are coming in from Mexico in increased numbers, concentrations, and potency--is destroying the lives of children as young as 10 years old and senior citizens who are in their eighties. It is an equal opportunity destroyer.
These drug-dealing terrorists are operating with impunity because our local law enforcement officers do not have the resources, do not have the funds, do not have the numbers, do not have all the resources necessary to combat it and defeat it. That is shameful. This is a matter of priorities.
[That explains why anti-drug measures are part of the USA PATRIOT Act. Drug dealers are terrorists. Let's make all murder, burglary, theft and assult "terrorist" offenses too, oh, and immigration without proper process - illegal immigrant can be automatically labeled "terrorist."]
Mr. KOHL. ... This marks the second year in a row in which President Bush has tried to kill the Byrne grant program. Given the Bush administration's attack on law enforcement funding, this proposed cut should come as no surprise. That said, the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program was appropriated a little more than $416 million last year in formula funds--despite the administration's desire to eliminate it. But this amount is less than half of what the program received just a few short years ago.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, the amendment I have sent to the desk tonight, that we will vote on tomorrow, restores the $1 billion cut in funding for Community Development Block Grant Programs that are assumed in the budget resolution that is before the Senate this week.
For more than 30 years, the Community Development Block Grant Program, known as the CDBG, has served as a tremendous catalyst for change in communities across the Nation. It has brought hope and opportunity to families and to residents and to communities everywhere we look in this country. For both cities that are urban and rural, CDBG has supported efforts to expand affordable housing. It invests in neighborhoods, and it supports local economic development projects that have literally revitalized communities.

Mr. VOINOVICH. ... I am pleased that the President decided to focus on what some have called the demographic tsunami coming our way and the necessity to reform entitlement programs before it hits. The 77 million baby boomers coming into Social Security and Medicare Programs will put the Federal budget under unprecedented pressure. Chairman Gregg took the courageous step to take on entitlement spending through the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, and I supported those efforts. However, this was just the tip of the iceberg. I would support greater efforts to continue to debate on entitlement reform so that we may make wise decisions and not decisions stemming from unneeded dawdling and delay. ...
However, we all know that the real problem is our long-term debt. I might mention in terms of our interest costs, if the central banks of foreign countries that are investing in our debt decide to redo their portfolios, we are really going to be in trouble because we will see our interest costs spike dramatically. ...
Additionally, if we are to be honest about the budget, we should make reasonable assumptions. The administration's budget assumes enactment of more than a dozen user fees totaling $3.2 billion in 2007 to offset discretionary spending increases. The user fee proposals in the budget include an increase in airline passenger security fees, changing some veterans' enrollment fees for medical care--which, by the way, was rejected by the Senate today 100 to 0--increased TRICARE enrollment fees and deductibles for military retirees under 65, regulatory fees for explosives, and Food Safety and Inspection Service user fees. These proposals have been rejected by Congress in the past and are unlikely to materialize. What they will do is, because that money is not going to come in, it is just going to squeeze other priorities. ...
The question we must ask ourselves is, If we don't have enough revenue to pay our current bills, how in the world are we going to prepare to cover much larger future promises? The simple fact is that we can't have it all. We need to set priorities. We need to make choices; otherwise, our children will end up paying for it.
Our forefathers recognized the inequity of passing on debt to future generations. George Washington in his farewell address stated:

[likewise avoid] the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertion in time of peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear.

In other words, throwing the cost of a war on to the next generation. Frankly, if we are willing to be honest with ourselves and make the hard decisions, the last thing we should be doing is talking about making tax cuts permanent. If we are to be honest and forthright with the American people, we should be asking them to pay for the extraordinary cost of the war and improving our homeland security. ...
I am concerned about this budget, but I am more concerned about the direction we are going. Our problem is that we are unwilling to pay for things or do without them. Unless we wake up to that fact, we are in very deep trouble.
8 . CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007
The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: ...
EC-6015. A communication from the Director, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Imposition of Special Measure Against Commercial Bank of Syria, Including Its Subsidiary, Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank, as a Financial Institution of Primary Money Laundering Concern'' (RIN1506-AA64) received on March 13, 2006; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
21 . EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
The following bills and joint resolutions were introduced, read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: ...
By Mr. COLEMAN (for himself, Mr. Levin, and Mr. Graham):
S. 2410. A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to limit foreign control of investments in certain United States critical infrastructure; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
24 . INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. SANTORUM:
S. 2408. A bill to require the Director of National Intelligence to release documents captured in Afghanistan or Iraq during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation Iraqi Freedom; to the Select Committee on Intelligence. ...
By way of background, The Weekly Standard published several articles detailing a number of these documents and the information contained within them which ``connect the dots'' between Saddam Hussein and the training of Islamic terrorists. Among the points highlighted in a recent The Weekly Standard article: [snippage] ...
26 . STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

A very good summary of the amendments to the Budget Bill (Passed, Rejected, and Pending) is contained in The Daily Digest for March 14, 2006. <- DO click here!

Thank you....I didn't get to listen to the Senate much yesterday...

QUESTION: What part of "oil independence, energy independence" ...to these idiots like DeWine, Coleman, Chafee and others NOT UNDERSTAND???

Wednesday, Mar 15, 2006
9:00 a.m.: Convene and resume consideration of S.Con.Res. 83, the Budget Resolution.

1:40 p.m.: The Senate will proceed to the House of Representatives where the president of Liberia will address a joint meeting of Congress.

Previous Meeting

Tuesday, Mar 14, 2006

The Senate convened at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at 7:59 p.m. Five record votes were taken.

------

Sorry I'm late I had to defrag my work computer.

Conrad is up calling Republicans the Party of borrow and spend

That Republicans don't want to cut spending

Budget measures rejected on close or near party line votes ...

Roll Call Vote 0038 - S.Amnd.3013
To fully reinstate the pay-as-you-go requirement through 2011.
GOP votes in the affirmative: Chafee, Collins, McCain, Snowe

Roll Call Vote 0039 - S.Amnd.3028
To support college access and job training.
GOP votes in the affirmative: Chafee, Coleman, Collins, DeWine, Snowe

Roll Call Vote 0041 - S.Amnd.3007
To increase Veterans medical services ... by closing corporate tax loopholes.
GOP vote in the affirmative: Chafee

Roll Call Vote 0042 - S.Amnd.3039
... foreign oil replacement with biofuels and alternative fuels
GOP votes in the affirmative: Chafee, Collins, Snowe

Seems they are whinning about an amendment for money to be use for the borders

Saying there is no money for it

That Republicans don't want to cut spending

(4) DEFICITS.--For purposes of the enforcement of this resolution, the amounts of the deficits are as follows:

Fiscal year 2006: -$552,064,000,000.
Fiscal year 2007: -$554,290,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: -$465,585,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: -$428,833,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: -$408,591,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: -$442,137,000,000.

(5) DEBT SUBJECT TO LIMIT.--The appropriate levels of the public debt are as follows:

Fiscal year 2006: $8,526,578,000,000.
Fiscal year 2007: $9,190,311,000,000.
Fiscal year 2008: $9,766,883,000,000.
Fiscal year 2009: $10,302,957,000,000.
Fiscal year 2010: $10,815,812,000,000.
Fiscal year 2011: $11,355,281,000,000.

Gregg is slamming Conrad about the tax cuts

Dorgan is comparing Gregg's comments to that of General Custard

Bryd up saying

All Aboard for Amtrack .. LOL

Bryd is as funny as ever but I must say he seems in better shape today than I have seen him lately.

Install the new hard drive and old hard drive by first setting the jumper to master or master with slave present (check the instructions on each hard drive label and using the proper hard drive cable - see below)

Install operating software on new drive

Restart computer and let the operating software recognize and install slave drive (as non-bootable drive)

Restart computer and transfer files or simply use this drive as storage, access though windows explorer or any other method desired to access files.

Give yourself a HUGE GOLD STAR for your research!

Thank you!

I am glad you got that....I saw your name on the ping list.

I am NOT great on research or I would have found that last night.

Thankfully, there are so many wonderful freepers that seem to find information on everything!!!

Did you see the thread about the White House saying "thanks, but no thanks", to Normie's suggestion? LOL