The Hill: Reid pulls the DoD bill

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/reid-pulls-the-dod-bill-2007-07-19.html

Reid pulls the DoD bill
By Manu Raju and Elana Schor
July 19, 2007

Senate Democrats pulled a major defense bill from the floor yesterday over bitter Republican protests, prompting a meltdown of relations and further clouding prospects for bipartisan accord on Iraq.

Signaling a growing rift between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the two could not agree which measure to consider next after Democrats’ abrupt decision to set aside the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill.

Republicans first blocked proceeding to a $38 billion homeland-security spending bill, forcing Reid to file the 44th cloture motion of this Congress to move on to the bill early next week. Democrats then were barely able to bring up a popular student loan bill, approving by a one-vote margin a motion to proceed to the measure. The Senate was only able to move to that bill because of budget rules prohibiting filibusters on the measure.

“At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is extraordinarily discouraging,” Reid said on the floor.

“The Senate is spiraling into the ground to a degree that I have never seen before, and I’ve been here a long time,” said Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.). “All modicum of courtesy has gone out the window.”

But Democrats said Republican threats to filibuster Iraq-related amendments indicate that McConnell is worried that more and more Republicans are moving toward the Democratic position.

“I understand McConnell’s position. He’s losing control of his caucus on this matter,” said Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) “He’s trying to protect the president.”

more...

[asthmaticeog]

1. Said Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.), “All modicum of courtesy has gone out the window.”

Is any comment necessary?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Wow.

They really didn't cave this time. how cool. :)

[babylonsister]

3. Today was a most excellent day! I take back all my anger at

their last lame attempt that resulted in nothing.