BlueBloggin

We are all aware that the GOP has done more to stall, hold up and filibuster every bill in both chambers of Congress. Hence, this tactic, which is continually overlooked but the media, gives most Americans the clear impression that Congress is doing nothing. So let’s step back and take a look at the most recent BS that the Senate GOP is pulling.

In a previous post, I reviewed how the Republicans plan to raise a point of order to strike the language on $65 billion bill funding Veterans Affairs and military construction (VA) and Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (HHS) because the two appropriations bills are packaged.

Yesterday in the Senate the Republicans followed through on their point of order to strike the language of the VA bill. By striking the language the GOP moved to separate the two bills which had been packaged for Bush’s signature. The bills are a $65 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and a $151 billion in discretionary funds to the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. Two needed bills. However, Bush has threatened to veto the Labor-HHS-Education bill because it adds $10 billion to his proposal. He has not threatened a veto on the Veterans Affairs measure, which is $4 billion more than his request. Obviously one can see why they were originally packaged.

The GOP following the marching orders of Bush’s veto threat stalled all forward movement of the Senate. Although Bush stated that the Veterans Affairs bill would not be vetoed, if separated, Bush’s veto threat for the much need Labor, Health and Human Services and Education is yet another example of his total disregard and contempt for Americans. But then, disregard and contempt for Americans has been and will continue to be this administrations rule of law.

During the Republican controlled Congress, packaged bills were sent to Bush on a normal basis. It’s how they did things in their lazy three day work week. And, all but one bill stem cell was signed into law. Stem cell was vetoed because of Bush’s so called moral values and not because it was over budget. Heck nothing was over budget when the Republicans were in control. Now, the Democratic controlled Congress continues to fight an uphill battle on a process that Bush and the Republican Congress practiced and praised for six years.

Currently there are 12 annual (appropriations) bills that the Democrats could be forced to send individually to Bush. However, with the limited legislative days left this year and Bush’s constant veto threat for anything that exceeds his request, nothing will get done. This double standard allows the GOP to continue their childish game in hopes that their false mantra that the Democrats in Congress are failing to do their job will succeed.

I find it ironic and reprehensible that Bush’s obsessive spending on his wars, which will never be paid off in our lifetime, has suddenly become a fiscal conservative. This administration and the last two Republican controlled Congress’ wasted more money on war and spent virtually nothing on our failing and collapsing infrastructure or our citizens. Yes Democrats were elected to stop the war but they were also elected into the majority to take care of the ever growing list of domestic concerns that the GOP chose to ignore.

So as members of the GOP continue to act like nothing in Congress is getting done, it’s very clear that it’s not for the Democrats want of trying but for the GOP’s constant game of stalling, hold ups and filibustering. The GOP needs to realize that we clearly see through their BS and Americans will get something done when they, the GOP are replaced in the next election. The GOP is truly the party of thugs.

Posted by nytexan November 8th, 2007 | Category: Bush, Congress, GOP, HHS, Health, Politics, Republican, Senate, VA, Veto, veterans | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL