Registered: 11/16/01
Posts: 15944
Loc: a nice place
THE UNEMPLOYMENT bill was an evil neccessity... catch 22 damn if he does damned if he doesnt. as much as they say jobs are coming back they arent around here.
I agree. I also think it's nuts to add a bunch of amendments onto bills just to get the bill passed. It's something I've had a problem with, regardless of party, for a long time.
Don Nickles Former senator (R-Okla.); Chairman and CEO, The Nickles Group : I had the honor of serving four terms as a member of the United States Senate. During that time, I came to realize that what fundamentally makes the Senate a unique and important body, is that the rules of the Senate try to ensure bills can only be passed through collaboration, not confrontation. During my tenure, neither party held a filibuster-proof majority. But that did not prevent us from passing significant legislation. I didn't agree with everything we did. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle didn't agree with everything either. But we worked together across the aisle to forge agreement, as the Senate rules require.
All senators should have the opportunity to debate and offer amendments before there is an effort to halt debate and limit amendments. This is what separates the Senate from the House and makes the Senate the greatest deliberative body in the world. Current rules force compromise and collaboration. They allow for discussion and debate. And, I believe it ultimately makes for better legislation.
