Oh, the GOP congress critters don't use extortion - aren't obstructionists

**Vortex** · 4th February 2010 07:47 PM

Report: Shelby Blocks All Obama Nominations In The Senate Over AL Earmarks

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 4, 2010, 9:19PM

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) has put an extraordinary "blanket hold" on at least 70 nominations President Obama has sent to the Senate, CongressDaily (sub. req.) reports. The hold means no nominations can move forward unless Senate Democrats can secure a 60-member cloture vote to break it, or until Shelby lifts the hold.

"While holds are frequent," CongressDaily reports, "Senate aides said a blanket hold represents a far more aggressive use of the power than is normal."

Shelby has been tight-lipped about the holds, offering only an unnamed spokesperson to reporters today to explain them. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid broke the news of the blanket hold this afternoon after Shelby announced it to him in a letter sent today. Reid aides told CongressDaily the hold extends to "all executive nominations on the Senate calendar."

According to the report, Shelby is blocking Obama's nominees over several lucrative programs that would sent millions in taxpayer dollars to his home state of Alabama. CongressDaily laid out the programs Shelby is upset about:

- A $40 billion contract to build air-to-air refueling tankers. From the report: "Northrop/EADS team would build the planes in Mobile, Ala., but has threatened to pull out of the competition unless the Air Force makes changes to a draft request for proposals."

- An improvised explosive device testing lab for the FBI. From CongressDaily: "[Shelby] is frustrated that the Obama administration won't build" the center, which Shelby earmarked $45 million for in 2008. The center is due to be based "at the Army's Redstone Arsenal."

Though a Shelby spokesperson would not confirm that these programs were behind the blanket hold, the Senator complained about them through a spokesperson earlier in the day, the magazine reports.

Back in Alabama, the Mobile Press-Register picked up the story early this afternoon. The paper confirmed the blanket hold, and reported that a Shelby spokesperson "did not immediately respond to phone and e-mail messages seeking confirmation of the senator's action or his reason for doing so."

A San Diego State University professor and "Congressional expert" told the paper "he knew of no previous use of a blanket hold" in recent history.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...l-earmarks.php

Come on conservatives what say you?

**boontito** · 4th February 2010 07:55 PM

[quote name='Vortex' date='04 February 2010 - 06:47 PM' timestamp='1265338076' post='111051']

Come on conservatives what say you?

[/quote]

Always so suspicious... maybe he just happens to have 70 legitimate gripes about the 70 different nominees.

**webrockk** · 4th February 2010 08:04 PM

No Hold

Oct. 14, 2003, 12 a.m.Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has removed his blanket hold on all of President Bushâ€™s executive branch nominees, now that the White House has agreed to nominate his top science staffer for a seat on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Now, logic would dictate that in order to remove a blanket hold, one must have first instituted one.

Extortion?

Next.

http://www.rollcall....ing/3151-1.html

**Vortex** · 4th February 2010 08:14 PM

[quote name='webrockk' date='04 February 2010 - 09:04 PM' timestamp='1265339072' post='111057']

No Hold

Oct. 14, 2003, 12 a.m.Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has removed his blanket hold on all of President Bushâ€™s executive branch nominees, now that the White House has agreed to nominate his top science staffer for a seat on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Now, logic would dictate that in order to remove a blanket hold, one must have first instituted one.

Extortion?

Next.

http://www.rollcall....ing/3151-1.html

[/quote]

Ah, but I never claimed no dem used this in the past. However, the conservatives love to say they aren't preventing things from happening and how much they hate pork.

And of course, there is that wailing and gnashing of the teeth about those back room deals.

But nice attempt on your point to play the "I know you are, but what am I" card.

**webrockk** · 4th February 2010 08:16 PM

Oh, mercy...this is just too easy. Shall I continue?

Landrieu threatens blanket holds to get levee funding</H1>By Jonathan Allen - 04/04/06 07:00 PM ET Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) threatened yesterday to hold President Bushâ€™s executive-branch nominees hostage until the administration agrees to a series of demands that would increase funding for coastal Louisiana.

In a letter sent to Bush yesterday, the Louisiana Democrat threatened to place holds on the presidentâ€™s nominees, raising the prospect that the Senate could be tied in knots as Bush tries to fill a variety of vacancies, including the top jobs at the Interior Department and the Office of Management and Budget.

â€œBecause this is literally a life-or-death situation for the people of my state, I am compelled to notify you that I will exercise my power as a member of the Senate to stop further consideration of all executive appointments until significant progress is made on such a request and commitment,â€ Landrieu wrote.

She is looking for an additional $6 billion for levees, flood control and coastal restoration in Louisiana â€” and the presidentâ€™s commitment to use â€œthe full weight of the office of the presidentâ€ to pursue that money, a plan for coastal restoration and a federal revenue-sharing arrangement for receipts from Outer Continental Shelf drilling.

The price tag matches the new figure the administration has said would be needed to bolster Louisianaâ€™s levee system to the point that the area would be eligible for federal flood insurance. A $95 billion supplemental spending bill marked up by the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday already contains about $2 billion for the Louisiana coast.

Senators have been able to block nominations â€” or legislation â€” indefinitely by using the informal â€œholdâ€ procedure. Senate Republican leaders could circumvent holds on nominations by calling for cloture, but each nomination would require a separate cloture vote. That could add days to the timeline for each nomination.

But the likelihood of high Senate floor drama was not yet clear yesterday. â€œHistorically, a blanket hold does not necessarily accomplish the goal [or goals] set out for it when deployed,â€ said Eric Ueland, chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).

â€œMr. President the piecemeal approach that has marked your administrationâ€™s response to providing adequate levee and flood protection for Louisiana has not worked,â€ Landrieu wrote. â€œIt needs to be replaced by a comprehensive approach that is both more effective and cost-efficient.â€

Louisiana lawmakers have run into strong resistance from conservative Republicans on recent requests for Gulf Coast funding. The conservatives argue that new money for the region should be offset by budget cuts.

With singular purpose, Landrieu has begged, bargained and beguiled in search of federal assistance for Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast last summer. Yesterday, she promised to up the stakes for the administration.

â€œItâ€™s the leverage I have,â€ Landrieu said.

She hinted that she has other arrows in her quiver but did not specify what other means she might have to put pressure on the president or the GOP-led Senate.

Landrieu did not rule out offering a floor amendment to the supplemental appropriations measure on the floor to accomplish her goal, but her aides said it would be difficult to get the money without backing from the White House.

Last month, Landrieu was the only Democrat to vote for the budget resolution, after she struck a deal with Frist and several senior Republicans that would provide $10 billion to Louisiana for similar purposes if a number of conditions are met.

But many lawmakers and aides have cast doubt on the prospects of final adoption of a conference report on the budget this year. The House is scheduled to vote on its version of the legislation this week.

â€œMoney spent on levees and flood control today will save the federal government billions in the future by eliminating the need for costly post-storm recovery and rebuilding in areas that were not adequately protected,â€ Landrieu wrote. â€œThe people of my state cannot wait any longer. We can no longer rely on promises. We need action, and we need action now.â€

As for Landrieuâ€™s threat, Ueland said Frist will not prematurely â€œcross any bridge.â€

**boontito** · 4th February 2010 08:16 PM

[quote name='webrockk' date='04 February 2010 - 07:04 PM' timestamp='1265339072' post='111057']

No Hold

Oct. 14, 2003, 12 a.m.Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has removed his blanket hold on all of President Bushâ€™s executive branch nominees, now that the White House has agreed to nominate his top science staffer for a seat on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Now, logic would dictate that in order to remove a blanket hold, one must have first instituted one.

Extortion?

Next.

http://www.rollcall....ing/3151-1.html

[/quote]

Wrong then too, wouldn't you say? Or is it only justified when one party is doing it?

**webrockk** · 4th February 2010 08:20 PM

[quote name='boontito' date='04 February 2010 - 10:16 PM' timestamp='1265339795' post='111063']

Wrong then too, wouldn't you say? Or is it only justified when one party is doing it?

[/quote]

I'm not defending, just exposing partisan hypocricy.

It's a gift.

**justoneman** · 4th February 2010 08:21 PM

I have always found this sort of thing objectionable. Well until now. Until this point in time. Clearly Obama is forging ahead with his intent to ruin the economy at a break neck pace. while normally I hate this sort of thing, now I am very worried about our country. I am for almost anything to stop the ruination.

**Vortex** · 4th February 2010 08:25 PM

[quote name='webrockk' date='04 February 2010 - 09:16 PM' timestamp='1265339761' post='111062']

Oh, mercy...this is just too easy. Shall I continue?

Landrieu threatens blanket holds to get levee funding</H1>By Jonathan Allen - 04/04/06 07:00 PM ET Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) threatened yesterday to hold President Bushâ€™s executive-branch nominees hostage until the administration agrees to a series of demands that would increase funding for coastal Louisiana.

In a letter sent to Bush yesterday, the Louisiana Democrat threatened to place holds on the presidentâ€™s nominees, raising the prospect that the Senate could be tied in knots as Bush tries to fill a variety of vacancies, including the top jobs at the Interior Department and the Office of Management and Budget.

â€œBecause this is literally a life-or-death situation for the people of my state, I am compelled to notify you that I will exercise my power as a member of the Senate to stop further consideration of all executive appointments until significant progress is made on such a request and commitment,â€ Landrieu wrote.

She is looking for an additional $6 billion for levees, flood control and coastal restoration in Louisiana â€” and the presidentâ€™s commitment to use â€œthe full weight of the office of the presidentâ€ to pursue that money, a plan for coastal restoration and a federal revenue-sharing arrangement for receipts from Outer Continental Shelf drilling.

[/quote]

Oh my, how dare Landrieu ask the Bush administration for any assistance relative to the levees, flood control and coastal restoration of Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina destroyed so much of it.

Let's see, pork projects for Alabama or restoration of destroyed areas of Louisiana and future protection for the citizens of a state. Let's weigh the importance of the two and see who had a legitimate reason to try to force the admin's hand.

Oh, and you will notice that Landrieu was even trying to work out a federal revenue sharing arrangement and just needed the president to back the needs of the citizens over those oily corporations.

Keep playing the game, all it means is that you agree with the pork projects that the GOP claims to object to and you like them being obstructionists, even though others here claim that is not what they are doing.

**Vortex** · 4th February 2010 08:27 PM

[quote name='webrockk' date='04 February 2010 - 09:20 PM' timestamp='1265340026' post='111064']

I'm not defending, just exposing partisan hypocricy.

It's a gift.

[/quote]

It's no gift.

I NEVER CLAIMED the dems didn't try drastic measures to get the Bush administration to comply.

I am not the one who bitched about closed door meetings and *gasp* extortion.

I am not the one that whines about pork and ear mark spending.