Two big votes happened in Congress today. First, the proposal from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) to put a temporary ban on congressional earmarks failed. From J. Taylor Rushing at The Hill's On The Money.
In a 39-56 vote, members defeated a temporary ban on the appropriations procedure. The moratorium was offered as an amendment to a food-safety bill that is scheduled for a final vote Tuesday morning.
Senate Republicans have already passed a voluntary ban on earmarks in their caucus, but several GOP senators have objected to it. Democrats have so far declined to ban earmarks from their members.
The legislation would have established an earmark moratorium for fiscal years 2012 and 2013, and also would have covered the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Congress has yet to pass an appropriations bill for the current fiscal year, and in the lame-duck session lawmakers are likely to approve either an omnibus spending bill or a continuing resolution to keep the government operating. ...
Naturally, most Republicans voted for the ban, while most Dems voted against. Here are the "mavericks":
Democrats voting for the measure were Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), amendment cosponsor Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), amendment cosponsor Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.)
Republicans voting against the amendment were Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah), Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Sen. James Inhoffe (R-Okla.) [really???], Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio).
I think it was El Rushbo who noted that the amount of money saved by banning earmarks was insignificant compared to other fiscal spending. But still, the fact that the vote happened and the way each party primarily voted is significant.
Also, James Antle at the AmSpec blog notes:
... an interesting pattern emerged: six of the eight Republicans who voted against the ban were on the Appropriations Committee; all of the Democrats who voted for it are from swing states, many of whom will face the voters in the next two elections. The latter group also included Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, who was defeated for reelection, and Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, who declined to run again.
And while the Senate was busy making sure the money gravy train kept chugging along for them, guess what they also did? Allow the food fascists to start wreaking havoc on your gastronomical freedom. From Michelle Malkin:
Today, I’m disappointed to tell you, the regulatory expansion bill masquerading as a “safety” measure passed by a large margin — with stomach-turning Republican support.The 15 power-grabby Republicans who voted for it:
Alexander (R-TN)
Brown (R-MA)
Burr (R-NC)
Collins (R-ME)
Enzi (R-WY)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kirk (R-IL)
LeMieux (R-FL)
Lugar (R-IN)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Snowe (R-ME)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)The Senate bill must be reconciled with a version that passed the House of Representatives in 2009 before Congress adjourns for the year.
There's a reason why Mark Levin often says, "Every time Congress meets, you lose a little bit more of your freedom."
Welcome to the future, suckers!
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