what's going on in the Senate right now, live?? 5:43 p.m.

[grasswire]

Something's up.

McCain was just apoplectic.

Grassley is steamed.

Feinstein is ranting.

Apparently something was slipped into the latest bill, authorizing a scheme by which a committee chairman's "agent" could access ANY TAX RETURN in the nation.

Nobody knows how this was inserted into the bill, which is already passed.

[Sparkly]

1. Wow, thanks for the heads-up

Hmmm....

[grasswire]

2. check it out on c-span 2

The political ramifications are astounding.

Feinstein says "This place is broken." One person can insert a provision in the dead of night and it becomes law.

The House has already passed it.

[grasswire]

7. Harken up now

"We need to investigate and find out who did this."

Feinstein: "I can't conceive of a staffer doing this without authorization. It doesn't. make. any. sense."

Ha! She said "It could be used to retaliate against some activist districe attorney in Texas."

[Straight Shooter]

67. Activist district attorney = man who brought charges against DeLay

I remember him being referred to as a "crackpot district attorney" by one of the DeLay supporters.

Well, it looks like the dragon is rearing its nasty head, right before our very eyes.

[blondeatlast]

111. Wasn't a supporter, DeLay himself said it.

You heard that right.

[Rose Siding]

74. Why's she calling Earle an "activist attorney"?

As I understand it, he's brought charges against more dems than repubs and this whole "partisan witch hunt" charcterization is the only thing partisan about his investigation.

[Stephanie]

8. What?

I don't understand. One person?

[grasswire]

11. Steph..

...it's being blamed on one staffer accidentally adding it in. A bluff.

[cornermouse]

3. Bush and Co. tried to pull a fast one.

Could it be that Congress has had enough of this treatment and are now finding their backbone???????

[Fovea]

4. Then we should quickly grab

as many Repuke leadership returns as we can.

[snippy]

14. Only committee chairmen, who are all republican, have the power. n/t

[grasswire]

47. hi snippy!

Written any rants lately? I miss them.

[snippy]

58. Not lately, but maybe an opportunity will arise between now and 2006.

In fact, this episiode concerning republicans pawing through tax returns for political purposes may awaken the muse. I am sure the mandate will provide plenty of material.

[Walt Starr]

5. How the fuck does this shit happen?????

I am a tax payer and as soon as the dipshit signs this bill, I want to challenge it in a court of law.

[pbartch]

118. I'm with you......class action lawsuit

where are the "sleazy" attorneys??? WE NEED ONE NOW??

HELP IS ON THE WAY!

[Sparkly]

6. It's getting blamed on a "staff member"

Democrats don't seem to be buying that.

[grasswire]

9. haaaa

Feinstein: "I'm just getting wound up. This didn't happen accidentally. The Senate needs to defeat this bill. The American people would be appalled."

[blondeatlast]

112. They are, Diane, they are.

At least the ones who know about it.

[iwantmycountryback]

10. I was watching a bit earlier

I think some Repub slipped in an amendment on some gigantic 3,000 page bill that allowed any senator or congressperson to see ANY person's income tax returns. Boxer was also talking about something which said an HMO wouldn't have to tell a woman that she has a constitutional right to abortion even in case of rape or incest or her life is in danger.

[Democat]

18. Not "any senator", only any "Republican senator"!

That's the trick, it's only Republicans who will be allowed to do it!

[Clarkie1]

12. Probably the GOP wants acess to your tax return for "electorate research"

[Sparkly]

13. Was this "language" something that lets people look at tax returns?

What exactly does it say? Who gets access to the tax returns and information??

[grasswire]

19. any agent of any committee chairman

of the House or Senate.

An agent could be a staffer or someone hired.

[Sparkly]

21. Got it now.

This is crazy.

[Stephanie]

27. What? Congress wanted access to our tax returns?

For themselves? Why? It's out of control. Last night I talked to two people who are leaving the country.

[grasswire]

15. Senator Conrad

"This completely sweeps aside any protections the citizens have."

It provides access to IRS facilities and tax returns and any other information the agency has.

There is NO PENALTY for misuse in the bill. A tax return could be released to the press with NO PENALTY.

[Walt Starr]

16. This shit means we are well and truly fucked.

Not just Democrats, BUT EVERY LAST AMERICAN HAS JUST BEEN FUCKED BY THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE!!!

FREEDOM DIED, AND THIS SHIT JUST BURIED IT!!!!

[Stephanie]

31. Please spell out for me exactly what they've done.

I'm not following. I'm hearing talk about IRS but also about abortion and also about a staffer inserting a provision in the dead of night?

[grasswire]

41. they are discussing various aspects...

..of the omnibus appropriations bill. The IRS snafu was one provision. Apparently there is another issue that they are discussing now, that inhibits a woman's right to choose. The bill inserts a provision that inhibits doctors from talking to their patients about abortion.

[Stephanie]

thanks MP

buckle your seatbelt.

[Clarkie1]

17. I think the idea that Rove what put your tax return into this big computer

in the basement of the whitehouse, a "secret war room," and they would use it to figure out how to target their political propaganda.

Brilliant idea, really (from a Rovian perspective).

[Sparkly]

20. Is there no rule that allows them to do anything once the bill has passed?

They can just sneak stuff in... Can't they vote to remove that passage or vote again or anything?

[Walt Starr]

23. Only thing that can stop it now is a veto

How likely do you think that shit is?

As I said, we are well and truly fucked. Expect ALL dissenters to be attacked based upon their tax returns.

[grasswire]

24. It hasn't been passed by the Senate yet.

But if someone hadn't seen this, it would have been!

[Walt Starr]

32. I thought they had already voted on it.

IF not, this was a VERY CLOSE ONE!

[grasswire]

22. Larry Craig...

..steamed, too. "This ought to come out. It won't become law. The system is broken. But all of us have keen eyes and we have caught it. We discovered this as we were doing the business of the people."

Then he says "Don't waste time talking about it. It won't become law."

[Guava Jelly]

25. said 100 to 0 against it becoming law

hey repubs have dirty laundry also

[Walt Starr]

28. He's a fucking Republican

He's being an apologist.

It's too fucking late now, the joint committee will keep the shit and * will sign.

[cornermouse]

35. "Don't waste talking about it."

Why not?

[grasswire]

38. they just want to shut down the discussion of it

This could spin out of control in a big bad way with true conservatives if they don't shut it down. Hoo boy!

I suspect that Rove's boys had something to do with inserting it in the bill.

[Straight Shooter]

76. No sh*t it could spin out of control. I'm calling my accountant Monday

Believe it or not, I've kept my Repub accountant because he always listens to me when we have political discussions.

He will be appalled at this abuse of the system. I think he honestly never understood the danger of the bush M.O. and the way its methods spread.

Printing info in the newspaper? Holy crap!

[eleny]

26. Now Feinstein on the Choice issue

[snippy]

29. No one has any idea what other republican inspired provisions may

have been slipped into this law. This is what happens when people vote republican.

[eleny]

30. Stevens is freaking out - says it's a "Mistake"

Oh yeah - really? He's trying to paint everyone with the same brush - Dems and Rs alike. Baloney!

[snippy]

39. It was a "mistake" that the democrats had time to catch it.

This republican wet dream was supposed to slip by unnoticed.

[eleny]

40. well put! they're running away with power and have the hots

[THUNDER HANDS]

33. Ted Stevens sounds like he just got caught cheating on his wife

Uh....um....uh....

[koopie57]

69. *LOL*

he sure does look awfully guilty! I bet his pants are full!

[pbartch]

119. a RECORDING SAID THE B*stards will reconvene 1st part of December

and that bill had better be fixed...........with all the CRAP taken out of it!

[Clarkie1]

Whatever it was, it's dead in the senate

[grasswire]

34. Ted Stevens R-Alaska

His voice is shaking. Insisting it was a mistake. Bi-partisan staff read the bill through twice. It takes ten hours to read the bill. It was a mistake. This is not a partisan matter.

"My staff will answer to me tomorrow. Terrible mistake."

[eleny]

37. He was practically blubbering

His blood pressure must be through the roof. No kidding - they.got.caught.

[ogradda]

36. don't they read this crap

before they sign it?

[THUNDER HANDS]

42. no, most of them don't

did you see F-911?

That's what that congressman was talking about. If politicians actually read all the bills they sign things would move a lot slower than they do right now.

[cornermouse]

53. Worse than that...

If they're forced to know what they're voting for, they might have to think about it and discuss it.

I bet the next bunch of sneak attack provisions are being inserted even while they're talking about it.

[grasswire]

Takes ten hours to read...

...and is very detailed. Stevens (whose staff was in charge) said a bipartisan staff read it through twice. Maybe Dems ought to designate some staffers to read it separately.

[THUNDER HANDS]

46. unless they were republican staffers

like the ones who work for Chuck Schumer.

[ljm2002]

117. Pardon me...

...but isn't that one of the things we hire them for -- to read and understand the bills that they vote upon on our behalf? We elect Senators, not their staffers. Seems to me a Senator could fit in ten hours to read a bill. And yes, they should also have their staffers read the bill. But they should not, as a rule, sign a bill they themselves have not read. Especially in an era where this sort of tricky dealing has become commonplace.

[Florida_Geek]

44. No that what happened to the Patriot Act

800 pages out in the dead of night.

[THUNDER HANDS]

43. so is this about abortion or tax returns?

I can't tell now?

[grasswire]

45. now they're talking about abortion

I guess they've decided that the IRS provision will be thrown out.

[snippy]

50. Republicans slipped provisions relating to both in the omnibus budget bill

It is their nature to operate in the secrecy of darkness. It facillitates their evil ways.

[Florida_Geek]

48. KERRY WIFE's TAX RETURN

or any Democratic candidates wife/children/relatives....

[snippy]

77. More likely George Soros' and any other donors to democratic

candidates or causes. Republicans are obsessed with finding a way to prevent donations to the democratic party and democratic candidates. They have groups which hold strategy sessions on it all the time. The K Street Project is one part of the strategy.

[gulfcoastliberal]

49. Sen Lautenberg (NJ) is kicking ass!

Had a poster of the late-term ban Bush signed with all the white men smiling around him, no women. He is on the attack! Why didn't he go for minority leader? I can't believe we picked an anti-choice politician as minority leader. That's got to be a DLC move.

[snippy]

63. I wish it had been this poster.

[Old Hickory Fan]

51. "not becoming of a democracy" - Frank Lautenberg

[happynewyear]

52. they got caught dem good ol' white boyz

FUCK THEM ALL! FUCK THEM!!

BASTARDS!!!!



Wasn't this ENOUGH?

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[Old Hickory Fan]

55. Middle of the night operation

Apparently it was supposed to go thru without question ......

[grasswire]

54. McCain's up again

speaking for the next ten minutes

[THUNDER HANDS]

56. next 30 minutes

he's pissed as all hell.

[Guava Jelly]

62. but he had to support bush over his friend kerry

crocadile tears

[Catt03]

57. I heard that the Democrats just got the bill at midnight

which seems to be a typical maneuver for the Republicans ....they do the bill...hold on to it and then give it to the Democrats at midnight. This also means that half of us have no representation in the government if we are Democrats.

This bill also hold a lot of pork and special projects for Senators and Reps for their home states.

[cornermouse]

59. Baby food containing salmon in the bill?

I know its been a few years, but I don't remember any baby food as having salmon.

[Bluebear]

61. Alaska must need some money

to "research" it.

[Catt03]

60. I would suggest that we all call the Senate now

and tell them we are watching.

On edit: Senate switchboard is open: 202 224 3121

[Old Hickory Fan]

64. STAY UNTIL IT IS RIGHT ....... N/T

[Catt03]

68. I called and told them

thanks....stay until you get it right ....

Also told them I was totally disgusted watching this.

[RumpusCat]

80. I'm glad some people have backbones

I don't how much good their objections will do, but I'm really glad they're making them.

I'm also glad to know I'm not the only nerd who watches CSPAN. :D Usually "did you see what happened on CSPAN?" is a surefire conversation killer... I'm glad I found DU.

[grasswire]

65. McCain

There's no provision for expansion of the military, which is essential. Wasteful provisions, instead. None of us have seen or read the provisions of this bill.

"There are other provisions in this bill which no one has seen or read!"

[grasswire]

66. Conrad back on IRS again

"I don't see any way if we pass this bill tonight that this provision won't become law."

[grasswire]

71. he's back on it

"If we pass this bill tonight and it goes to the president for signature, this will become the law of the land. Senator Stevens is in favor of passing a resolution for removal that will go to the House, but they won't be able to pass it until Dec. 6. THIS WILL BECOME LAW IF WE PASS IT TONIGHT."

[gulfcoastliberal]

70. They better shoot this pile of shit down.

All dems must vote no! I think some repugs will join them.

[grasswire]

72. a freaking shell game

STevens: "The president will issue a statement when he signs that bill that this provision will be removed and should be ignored."

[grasswire]

75. Stevens

"We didn't seek this authority and we will never use the provision. It is a terrible thing. We never saw it when the bill was read. It was an accident."

His blood pressure is up again. "Some of my people haven't slept for two days!"

[cornermouse]

78. Steven's staff hasn't slept for two days...

Big Boo-Hoo. Who cares? And we are supposed to believe him that although it will become law, it won't be used?????

Yeah, right.

[snippy]

97. Stevens must be referring to the Dictator Powers Clause in the

republican version of the Constitution. That power of the president is not in my copy of the US Constitution.

Why must republicans always defecate on the United States Constitution before they masturbate with it and then claim to have licked it clean?

[gulfcoastliberal]

73. Stevens is spewing BS

He is doing a piss-poor job trying to whitewash this. They better not accept his resolution - he said to take GWs word for it.

[Old Hickory Fan]

79. HOUSE PASSED IT ALREADY

[grasswire]

81. Conrad again (bless him)

He trusts Stevens. House staffers are responsible. But this is in the bill, and it will become law and an agent of the chairman could obtain and release any tax return in the land and release it, with no penalty. Any journalist, any legislator, anyone.

Now he and Stevens are fighting.

[Old Hickory Fan]

86. BROKEN PROCESS --- WHERE IS KERRY?

[iwantmycountryback]

82. Poor pathetic Stevens

The only one sticking up for this bullshit.

[Bluebear]

83. "I'm TIRED of this! We WORKED HARD on this bill!!!!!!"

It's hard work!

[Spazito]

87. He's lying through his teeth...

what a pile of shit Stevens is. He knows damn well it will be used.

[MADem]

114. Obviously the proofreader went home early, then!! n/t

[gulfcoastliberal]

84. Conrad vs Stevens

Stevens is saying they never intended to use this power, he is screaming! Hysterics! Conrad is kicking his ass.

[happynewyear]

88. Stevens: Pounding fist and screaming

I think he's going cry! :cry:

Oh :nopity: CRY ME A FUCKING RIVER!!!!

:dem:

[Bluebear]

95. I'm waiting for the podium to break under the pounding

Ha ha ha ha

[grasswire]

85. Stevens blowing up now

"I'm tired of talking about people saying we intended to use this provision."

He's shouting!

Conrad: "Somebody did it!"

[Old Hickory Fan]

90. GOD HELP US ...........................

[iwantmycountryback]

89. Stevens is losing it HAHA

We never intended to use it! Spewing major bullshit.

[Guava Jelly]

91. damn this is better then wwf smackdown

i am waiting for the steele cage match

[Bluebear]

92. Will he challenge the questioners to a duel?

Zell can help!

[RumpusCat]

93. Conrad is holding on--go him!

Stevens is trying to blame the resolution on Dems--what? Yes. Because the Dems are so poweful. :eyes:

ETA: Stevens is now saying that we should trust him that they won't use the provision in the bill. He said, "Do I have to get down on my knees?" do get trust? Ha. It'd be a good start.

[snippy]

106. How long can Americans continue to believe

the lying, rat fuck, piece of shit republicans' claims that every anti-American, anti-jobs, anti-family, budget busting thing that republicans do with their one party control of government is the fault of the democrats?

[THUNDER HANDS]

94. Stevens is gonna cry

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH


poor, poor Teddy.

[Dinger]

109. Whoa, Here Comes Byrd!

[happynewyear]

96. Stevens: "A terrible way to do business"

Yeah no shit idiot.

:nopity:

lol!!!!!!!

:dem: :kick:

[gulfcoastliberal]

98. Stevens: people will lose rights if they DON'T sign it!

What kind of cheap reverse psychology was that? He is insane.

Conrad is back up.

[Bluebear]

100. "We NEVER intended to use it!!! NEVER!"

Stevens, you got caught with your pants down buddy.

[grasswire]

99. Conrad: Your side controls the House and Senate

"So don't blame the last-minute troubles on Democrats!

The fact is, the provision is here. Stevens said he won't use the power, but he won't be the Chairman after tonight. It will become law."

[Catt03]

101. Just to let you know that the pathetic representation

in Congress did not pass the 9/11 Commission Reform bill.

And now this.

What a sickening mess they are.

[Old Hickory Fan]

104. SOMETHING ROTTEN IN DENMARK

[atommom]

102. Holy crap. Someone on the Republican side needs to catch hell

for this!!!

[Metatron]

103. Damn - I might have to watch the fallout on the news shows Sun.

This is good political theatre - thanks for letting us know, grasswire!

[grasswire]

105. Dorgan: Let's take it out right now.

Making a motion that the provision be struck immediately. Right now.

Objection from Republicans.

Boxer: What's going on? AN OBJECTION??? Bring the House back if necessary. Fix it.

She used the "spy" word.

[gulfcoastliberal]

107. Started a new thread.

Stevens resolution up now.

[grasswire]

108. why did you start a new thread?

I object.

[happynewyear]

110. Byrd ....

Lay it on 'em Senator Byrd!!!

(Looks in good solid form today btw ...) :D

:kick:

[Old Hickory Fan]

113. Wee hours of the night

Secrective ..... Scary

[Walt Starr]

115. So WTF happened, did this piecec of shit pass or what?

Anybody know?

:shrug:

:wtf:

[AG78]

116. It did

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=4&u=/ap/20041121/ap_on_go_co/congress_spending

But it's going back to the House next week so they can fix the tax records issue. It won't be sent to Bush to sign it until that's resolved.

And when Congress comes back, they say they'll give the abortion issue another look by the end of April.

Plenty of other problems with it I'm sure, so it's not the last time we'll hear from it.

Somehow it's a small victory, but it still passed. And with a couple new, extra-crazy Republicans showing up in the Senate come January, who knows what happens in the future.

[Walt Starr]

121. Sooooo, we are well and truly fucked

and this will become law because there is no fucking way that bit is coming out.

Time to go truly underground or they will attack you over your tax records. Time to forget dissent or you will be attacked over your tax records.

Congress won't do shit about this.

[Walt Starr]

122. Sooooo, we are well and truly fucked

and this will become law because there is no fucking way that bit is coming out.

Time to go truly underground or they will attack you over your tax records. Time to forget dissent or you will be attacked over your tax records.

Congress won't do shit about this.

[pbartch]

120. you should get an award GRASSWIRE!!

Thank you for posting this!!!