Wednesday, January 21, 2015 4:17:54 PM · by Oldeconomybuyer · 135 replies
NBC News ^ | January 21, 2015
But you knew that.
Posted on 01/13/2015 3:42:39 PM PST by Libloather
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday he will allow the Senate to vote on an amendment asking if they agree that climate change is impacting the planet.
At his weekly press briefing, McConnell said "nobody is blocking any amendments" to legislation that would approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
The GOP leader had promised to allow an open amendment process on the Keystone bill.
But a measure proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had raised questions about whether he would stick to that commitment.
The Sanders measure asks whether lawmakers agree with the overwhelming consensus of scientists who say climate change is impacting the planet and is worsened by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
Democrats believe the measure could be a tough vote for some Republicans, particularly GOP senators running for reelection in 2016 in states carred by President Obama in 2012.
McConnell shot back at reports he might block the Sanders amendment, exclaiming "yeah" when asked if his caucus is prepared to take a vote on climate change.
"Nobody is blocking any amendments except the senator from California who is making us burn 30 hours to begin to have this bill up and open for amendments," McConnell said, referring to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
McConnell was referring to opposition from Boxer and Democrats to ending debate on a motion to proceed to the Keystone bill. A deal to end that debate was reached not long after his comments.
"We are not anxious to block anybody's amendment, we are wide open. The Senate is out of practice here," McConnell addded.
Sanders's amendment is one of many Democrats are looking to tack on to the controversial bill, which Republicans are eager to send to President Obama's desk. The White House has threatened to veto the Keystone legislation.
Other amendments from Democrats include a requirement for oil companies to pay into a spill cleanup fund, and to block exports of the oil shipped via the Canada-to-Texas pipeline out of the U.S.
File this one under: “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”
Actually, this is how the Senate is supposed to work, and it’s how it did work for most of the history of the US until Dingy Harry took over. Allowing amendments to bills was standard practice. Amendments must be subject to a separate Senate vote before they are incorporated into the legislation under debate, so it’s not automatic that any Dem amendments would be incorporated into the legislation. What Dingy Harry did was stop any amendments from even being proposed, debated, and voted upon. I may be wrong, but I believe that is unprecedented in the history of the Senate.
He’ll get his shot at it.
Stupid Democrats want to keep the pipeline oil in the U.S. by forbidding the people who own the oil from shipping it overseas. The oil will fill a demand somewhere in the country, and other oil will be shipped overseas. What did they accomplish? Besides, once the oil is in tanks all over the Gulf Coast, who’s going to track it?
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How right you are.
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Really? This thread begs to differ. FReepers are now on board with Global Warming.
But you knew that.
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