Overtime lives another day

[Dr.Phool]

At 3:45pm today the cloture motionfo HR 2673, the Omnibus Appropriations act failed 48-45.

This is the spending bill that was amended in the middle of the night by Bush and Co. It contained provisions for eliminating overtime pay, privatizing the air traffic control, and many other horrendous provisions. So debate is still open. A few brave Republicans voted "Nay", and a few clowns like Zell Miller and suprisingly Jim Jeffords voted "yea". Bill Frist voted "Yea", but changed to "Nay" at the last minute.

[baby_bear]

1. I thought I heard Jeffords as a no

Could be mistaken.

Patty Murray didn't listen to my appeal to her to vote no...she gets another letter today.

s_m

[denverbill]

2. Interesting.

7 non-voters? That's an awful damned lot for a close vote. Who were the no-shows?

It's also very strange that Frist changed his vote. Is he up for reelection or something and wants to be on the record for a 'no' as long as it doesn't actually make a difference?

[ps1074]

3. Frist's vote is some sort of maneuver

It has somehting to do with him being a majoroty leader. Voting NO, he can later bring this to a closure vote again or something like that... I can't remember the procedure very clear but it is some sort of maneuver.

[ewagner]

8. Am I mistaken

or, under legislative procedure, only a member who voted with the majority can call for "reconsideration"? IMO Frist wanted to preserve the right to take another shot at it.

[Mr. Brown of MD]

12. It's actually someone with the "prevailing side"

In this case, the side that prevailed was the side that voted against the cloture motion. The prevailing side isn't always going to be the majority, especially in the case of a cloture vote, which could go something like 55-45 and still have the 45 be the prevailing side.

Anyway, that's almost certainly Frist's motive hear, to try to take another shot at it. I've not seen this maneuver work any time during Bush's term, whether it was used by Lott, Frist, or Daschle, but I guess they want to hedge their bets. Just in case.

-CollegeDude
Hopefully that case will not come

[GinaMaria]

4. This also had school voucher

stuff written in it I believe. Glad to hear it did not pass.

[adamrsilva]

6. It had a lot of bad things

One rider would reduce the amount of time the FBI can keep gun records from 90 days to 24 hours.

[adamrsilva]

5. Awesome news!

I've been writing to people nonstop about this for months.

[aeon flux]

7. When it comes up for another vote

watch the thugs hold open the vote for hours past the legal deadline until it passes.

[Snappy]

9. Omnibus Bill

This is a give away Bill that isn't needed in this time of deficit high. Who put this piece of crap together? The no pay OT and school vouchers provisos were stealthly placed by the Repugs so they would be passed within this payout because they would never be passed standing on their own. In fact, the no pay OT was rejected before.

[joeunderdog]

10. Let them pass the no OT bill. Go 'head...

...make my election. Let their true colors show even louder than ever. They think none of this will matter come election time. Well, guess what? It will. People notice little things like pay decreases. It's about the only language some people understand. These same voters were motivated to support the Shrub for a $300 phantom tax break. Think they'll give him their OT and their vote?

NOT>

[NewJerseyDem]

14. Well they are well short

They need about 8-12 senators to change their vote and that is not an easy thing to do. I know that Lieberman, Kerry and Edwards missed the vote and I'm sure they would all vote no if they had showed up.

This bill will have to be changed if it has any hope of passage. I'm guessing that some of these provisions will be taken out until they can get 60 votes. Hopefully, the democrats will hold out on issues like vouchers, overtime and FCC regulations.

[Valjean]

11. Is the GOP smoking crack????

What do they think they are doing?? The Democrats will CLOBBER Republicans with this come election time. I don't understand if this comes from arrogance or stupidity.

What will they do when they have to tell Bubba that they tried to take away his overtime and he can't afford a new Bass Boat. That will be the end of Republican rule.

[AndyTiedye]

15. The GOP Thinks It's In the Bag (i.e. the Fix is In)

so they don't care what anybody else thinks.

[NewJerseyDem]

13. Jeffords switched his vote

He voted yes and then I guess he realized he wanted to vote no and changed is vote to no about a minute later.