Ellington

[Breaking] Apparently, it was just disocvered that Republicans snuck a provision into the 3,000-page budget bill that allows agents of congressional committees to have access to anybody's IRS records. They're fighting about it right now on C-SPAN II. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, is yelling right now that they never "intend" to use the power. BIG FIGHT.

Sen. Conrad of North Dakota just yelled that "it's wrong!" and the process is broken. They got a 3,000-page bill slapped on their desk and expected to pass it in a few hours. He just quoted Reagan: "Don't send me another bill like this because I won't sign it." Conrad: "We don't know what's in this bill ... and if some sharp staffer hadn't caught this, we'd be making this the law of the land."

From DailyKos.com: Ted Stevens has just apologized to the entire Senate and pulled the IRS provision that Stevens said was 'slipped into the bill' by 'some staffer'. The provision apparantly allowed certain Chairs of Senate committees to have access to anyone's IRS data (like the Texas DA going after DeLay). Harken wants to know who the staffer is. Watch the show live. McCain was livid. So was Grassley, both (R).

Sen. Conrad from ND just called the GOP out on this budget bill. Apparently they stuck a provision that removes any expectations of privacy regarding our tax returns in the middle of this 3000 page bill in the middle of the night. They didn't tell the Dems. But they caught them. This is amazing to watch - they're going OFF. This tactic is NOT new, but getting caught and having Dems throw fits IS.

Previous Comments

ID

137392

Comment

LIVE NOW ... Sen. Kent Conrad: We've got a process that is broken ... we've got a provision here that would open up the tax returns of every American, every American company, to some staffer ... that's wrong. ... The provision is here; somebody wanted it; somebody got it in here. ... If we vote for this bill tonight, unfortunately with this mistake in it, it's going to become law. I don't want to explain that to my constituents back home ... a serious, serious mistake." ... "Mr. President, if there is a desire to take it out, let's take it out right now. ..." Asks for unanimous consent, but there is an objection to taking it out! Sen. Barbara Boxer on what she called the "Big Brother" provision: "I'm confused [because objection] ... If the House went home, bring the House back. ... I don't quite understand what just happened. ... let the record be clear that there was objection from the Republican side to take out this offensive language that gives permission .... to designate staff to look at any American's, any business tax return, that they decide they want to spy on."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-11-20T17:45:54-06:00

ID

137393

Comment

Sen. Robert Byrd (who turns 87 today) is giving a civics lesson, especially about the result of last-minute omnibus appropriation bills given to lawmakers at the last minute so they don't have time to study them: "I don't like that the minority is being shut out. ... Why, this is a slam at the integrity of the appropriations committees and at the two Houses. ... It's a terrible thing to have somebody put this in the bill and lay this on the chairman. ... (yelling now) it is the inevitable result of a horrendous process that has developed here the last few years. ... It is egregious and it ought to be make every senator hopping mad at the process that caused it. ... "I had said I was going to vote for this bill. Now I am going to vote against this bill because of this awful process. ... I will not support a process that results in this kind of chicanery."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-11-20T18:08:22-06:00

ID

137394

Comment

LIVE still. Sen. Kennedy called this "breath-taking arrogance of power," coming just two weeks after the election. Now he's listing the abuses of power in the bill, in addition to this one. Sen. Mary Landrieu came out for a delaying tactic; there's hilarious live commentary on this going on right now at: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/20/171329/43 This stuff is fascinating. Landrieux is about now to talk about National Adoption Day for three minutes for more stalling. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-11-20T18:23:50-06:00

ID

137395

Comment

OK, I gotta shower and get to the opera and other nightly pursuits. This is the first time I've wanted to tape C-SPAN. Head over to Daily Kos for much hilarity! It really is a live civics lesson. Here's to true freedom. Later ...

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-11-20T18:45:03-06:00

ID

137396

Comment

Donna, you are the best. sorry I missed this, maybe Tivo or whatever that thing is , is a good thing. Conrad, Boxer, Byrd. there's hope. thanks for grabbing it.

Author

sunshine

Date

2004-11-20T22:36:22-06:00

ID

137397

Comment

p.s. I don't think it's live anymore now, but Daily Kos is great. I am an over 55 and my daughter is an under 25 (sigh) and we recently discovered , what, we both think Daily Kos is a good thing! with your morning coffee, before or after Salon, and here, with a side of JFP.

Author

sunshine

Date

2004-11-20T22:52:57-06:00

ID

137398

Comment

Update from AP: ongress passed legislation Saturday giving two committee chairman and their assistants access to income tax returns without regard to privacy protections, but not before red-faced Republicans said it was all a mistake and would be swiftly repealed. The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution immediately after passing a 3,300-word spending bill containing the measure, saying the provision "shall have no effect." The DailyKos thread following this live was fascinating and funny. Here's onethe bloggers quoting Sen Robert Byrd, who was on fire over this trick: "That's the White House meddling. †A White House that does not seem to recognize that there is a Constitution of the United States. A white house that does not seem to recognize that there is a separation of power. A White House that does not seem to remember that the legislative branch is not, indeed, subordinated to the executive branch." Cuts Byrd detailed in this bill: Title 1 †$661 mil Special Ed $658 mil NIH $537 mil EPA clean and safe water grants $312 mil VA medical care $235 mil Public Housing $975 mil National Science Foundation $277 mil Cops program $154 mil "Behind each dollar is an American citizen" "Fewer children with disabilities will receive the specialized services that they need." "Fewer dollars for cops means fewer officers on the street at the very time when crime is up and the terrorist threat is very real Apparently, Rep. Istook, that wingnut from Oklahoma who wants to shut down dissent, inserted the language. Unbelievable. It is going to be a long four years. Keep the faith, though. America is bigger than these tricksters.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-11-20T23:36:56-06:00

ID

137399

Comment

One more good quote: "Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said the measure will "bring us back to the doorstep to the days of President Nixon, President Truman and other dark days in our history when taxpayer information was used against political enemies." What's wrong with that -- as long as it's used against "those people"? Ciao.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-11-20T23:43:12-06:00