Cheney funding clampdown in peril

[babylonsister]

Nelson and Landrieu have a problem with this?

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/cheney-funding-clampdown-in-peril-2007-07-12.html

Cheney funding clampdown in peril
By Elana Schor
July 12, 2007

Senate Democratic appropriators’ clampdown on funding for Vice President Cheney may not survive a likely test today, as two centrists remain undecided on whether to prod Cheney to comply with an executive order on safeguarding classified information.

Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chairman of the appropriations panel in charge of Cheney’s office, added to his subcommittee’s spending bill a provision freezing money for the vice president until Cheney stops resisting a mandate that executive-branch entities report on their handling of classified data.

Cheney initially argued that his office is not part of the executive branch, garnering snickers from Democrats. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) is likely to seek a vote on removing the funding freeze today, meaning that Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) would need to vote with their party to keep the provision alive.

Landrieu spokeswoman Ste­pha­nie Allen said her boss “is weighing her decision until the full committee markup, but she is hoping the administration and Congress can work out this dispute.”

Nelson, who supported Durbin’s provision in a Tuesday vote, declined to say whether he would continue voting to keep it alive. Instead, Nelson urged the administration to intercede by clarifying the executive order at issue, specifically exempting Cheney.

Durbin said he has spoken with senators hesitant about the funding curb and hopes that fellow Democrats continue their support.

[liberal N proud]

1. You know that some threat has been thrown down by dick

And they will cave and let him have his obscene amount of money with no requirement for any accountability.

[annabanana]

2. Let's see now. . that would be:

Nelson-(D)Nebraska
http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

and

Landrieu-(D) Louisiana
http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Right?

[KharmaTrain]

3. Tread Lightly Here...

This is one of those think before you do moments. While I strongly endorse my Senator's push to defund Cheney until he complies with oversight, I can also see this as a weapon that could be used against Democrats in the future. If the GOOP is to hold on to any power in the future, it'll be the Senate and that I could easily see Repugnicans using a defunding tactic against future Democratic administrations based on this action.

Landrieu's in a tennable position...she needs federal money desperately...or else it could mean her looking for new work come November. Or so she thinks. She's concerned a bigger battle that creates further gridlock will be used against her. But with the Vitter fiasco, maybe that situation has changed.

I am, in no way, defending any Democrat not supporting Senator Durbin here...I not only want Cheney's funding cut, but impeachment inquries started.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. True about Landrieu's likely reasons

that was my first thought as well. Hopefully, anyone who might be contacting her office today would be reminding her that the Bushetals' so-called "cut the funding for our troops" was a sham because they would pull funds from other sources. It's hard to imagine that they wouldn't do the same for Cheney. :shrug:

That said, I can't figure out what Nelson's excuse would be.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Ben Is A 2010 Problem

The other day a Nebraskan DU'er was discussing Hagel's situation...unlike Kansas that has begun to shift blue, this state still remains a bastion of Conservatives and the Democrats in the state are still trying to get their act together....but in the meantime, the Repugnicans have a lot of power in state politics that not only affect how Nelson votes, but now Hagel...who faces a right wing challenger next year for bucking booshie on Iraq.

I think we could see a shift on the "moderates" if there's a larger Democratic majority in the Senate. Nelson (actually both of them) were used as wedges for years when the Repugnicans controlled the Senate and maybe with some extra Democrats to give them breathing room, their votes won't be so hard to come by.

Cheers...

[AndyA]

4. Landrieu - in my opinion, she's in the same category as Lieberman.

I keep seeing her name on the wrong side of the issues. I wonder why. :shrug:

[bridgit]

6. good, the saddest part is that Cheney knows more about congress than congress does...

he's been manipulating all manner of votes, laws, spirits & letters for decades now, that is how he has managed to button, tack & nail all this stuff down so hard; in addition to being able to anticipate the behaviors of virtually everyone including his bully puppet

if treasonous behavior & war profiteering for personal/family gain aren't impeachable offenses...then Cheney isn't going anywhere

it's well past time for dems to get serious about this Cheney guy, as he's been nothing but blood thirsty, spit-in-your-eye serious about everyone in DC since Day 1

this "You're soooo grounded young man!!" stuff looks effete, and Cheney knows it

[murielm99]

8. Maybe we should wait until after the press conference.

He may be talking about this and Harriet Meirs.

I think he has some nasty thing in mind, something that is like the commutation: barely legal and unethical.