I'm puzzled to see so many people blaming the government for politicians being out of the Capitol, getting drunk, while amendments they had made were being debated.

These lazy, overpaid and irresponsible critters did have the choice of putting in the hours and joining in the debate.

It was their choice to leave the work to the others while they went off to relax.

reply to post by ZindoDoone

A few congressmen tried to do just that about during the Clinton years but it went nowhere.It was originally tried during FDR's reign and was voted down by his reps in congress. Both sides use this process for leverage and it never should have been allowed. Our founding fathers would turn over in their graves should they ever have seen this being done. If they were ever to come back some how, there would be duels on the mall over they way our present government is run because of the insult they would feel!

Yes - BOTH SIDES USE THIS PROCESS FOR LEVERAGE!!! This is not about Dems or Reps, this is about what the politicians do when they have their own - instead of The People's - interest in mind! Just so happens the Dems did it this time, is all.....

When are some going to get that the state of our country has NOTHING to do with one of the political parties - it has to do with BOTH?!?!? They are not their to look out for the people that elected them. They are there for their own agenda and it, apparently, has nothing to do with our Constitution or the well being of the people they represent. The government is crap and our Constitution gives The People the power to throw them out - forcefully, if need be!

an emergency war funding bill!whats that about?are they expecting a war maybe.dont they give enough already.

Originally posted by notreallyalive
Great thread - thanks for bringing it out.

I'd like to know what was changed between when this bill passed at 6:25 pm, with only 17 members not voting, and when it was passed again at 9:01pm with 136 members not voting. Numbers here taken from Government websites (not Fox News)

As best I can tell....nothing passed at the 9:01 vote.

That vote was just to say that they would pick things up in the morning.

It was the Comittee trying to make a point by calling the congress to vote.
They were there giving required airtime to the 127 amendments while those that wrote the amendments went home, so they called a proceedural vote to get everyone to come back in....

Message: If you guys are going to slow down the passage of the bill with 127 amendments then you sure as hell aren't going to go home and leave us here working into the wee morning hours to give the required airtime to each amendment and not even be present for the debate on the very amendments you proposed...

The first debate on the first amendment took over an hour...126 to go...that makes for a long night while the congressmen who proposed the amendments are having drinks.

NO Sympathy for these guys having to work late on their own amendments....a taste of the real world for fat politicians.

Originally posted by Rockpuck
Someone needs to introduce legislation that makes it impossible for ANY piece of legislation to be voted on unless there is at least 95% of the voters present at the time of the vote.

Simple enough, and I can think of no reason as to why that should not be the case?

How about we also require that they....read the bill before they vote on it...and not speed read but actually comprehensively read the bill. Congress makes me sick