Let’s hear it for Congress. First, the Democrats for some reason decided to bring up a bill giving a piece of the Eight Mile River federal status (basically, it’ll get money) with the requirement that it get a 2/3 majority, then House Republicans go after the bill, claiming falsely that it would have made it easy for the government to take land through eminent domain:
But the bill to make that happen was defeated in the House on July 11, thanks to a fierce Republican effort aimed at hurting vulnerable rookie Rep. Joseph Courtney, D-2nd District, its chief sponsor. And its prospects in the Senate, should it get that far, are uncertain. The Republicans didn’t want Courtney to take credit for passing a major bill because it could help his re-election chances.
Many Republicans, including House GOP leaders, said the Eightmile River plan would allow the federal government to easily seize private property - even though the legislation says otherwise. (Lightman)
The fight against this bill was led by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK). Tom Cole. Where have I—? Oh, right, this is the guy whose office called me twice to tell me I had won the Congressional Merit Award or something like that (a quick search on the internet turned up the fact that this is, in fact, a widespread fundraising scheme of his). Lovely guy.
At least the Democrats were able to punish Cole by killing a bill of his–read the article, his attempts to wheedle and plead ignorance to Courtney so they won’t hurt his bill are hilariously pathetic.
In the end, Courtney will probably win on both the legislative and political front. Hopefully the Eight Mile River bill will come up again and pass. And now his Republican colleagues have handed him a nice blunt instrument with which to club them. Well played.
Source
Lightman, David. “River Bill Prompts A Partisan Flood.” Hartford Courant 23 July, 2007.
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Corporations and other parties responsible for oil, chemical, and waste spills are supposed to be billed for clean-up costs incurred by the Department of Environmental Protection, the state auditors say.
But they also say there is no incentive to pay up because the DEP rarely executes liens against the property involved.
http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18612208&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6
To establish a more perfect democracy, how about adding this line to each ballot: “None of the above; For a new election”?
Sounds like a cranky idea, but don’t dismiss it out of hand.
I never hesitate to vote blank if all the choices suck!
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-mass.artjul23,0,7218615.story
Cole isn’t the first Congressman from Oklahoma to derail an initiative of CT’s 2nd District Congressman.
Ernest Istook, failed candidate for Governor, peed in Rob Simmon’s wheaties over improvements to Amtrak lines for Southeast CT back a few years ago.
Rob Simmons eats Wheaties? Was his picture ever on the box?
[quote comment="16278"]Rob Simmons eats Wheaties? Was his picture ever on the box?[/quote]
No, but it should have been…
>>No, but it should have been…
Yup!
Superman had nothing on Simmons.
George Bush hates London, too:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1276465,00.html
>>George Bush hates London, too:
Yes yes…I’m sure it’s somehow all his fault that the UK’s flooding.
Let’s blame Al Gore instead, after all he invented global warming.
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