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Return to Article: Government operations bills may be postponed until 2008

• 39804
  

  Well put, Mark. I work in an office of 20, with regulations guiding our every move, and we have trouble with consistency and agreement.

  Anytime you have more than one person involved in anything, there are going to be inequities and concessions. As disappointed as I've been over the past 7 years, I can still understand what has happened, to a certain degree. It truly seems the only time I really end up concerned is during those rare moments of concurrence; when legislation flies through with little opposition. These moments seems invariably reactionary. The mass feels "Something just HAS to be done!"; right or wrong.

  Perhaps this year some calm clear thinking may get done.

  Tip off Posted December 17, 2007 7:39 AM
• 39604
  

  The first challenge is getting a bill passed in Congress. If a majority vote in favor, the bill progresses to the President for signature.

  The next challenge is getting the President to sign it.

  The trick is, finding the compromise that exists between a majority of 535 representatives of the people and ONE president.

  Mark Gibson Posted December 13, 2007 10:39 AM
• 39484
  

  The problem is Republican obstructionists in the Senate who, thanks to cloture rules, continue to follow the President over a cliff. A President who does not care about the will of the people and who has all of a sudden developed budget religion after seven years (what about the $500,000 a minute going down the rathole in Iraq?). Unfortunately, if the political roles were reversed the Democrats would do the same. It ain't pretty but in what other country in the world would you want to live?

  Happykamper Posted December 11, 2007 4:30 PM
• 39483
  

  Congressional irresponsibility at its' best! How absurd is it that passing Patrick Leahy's FOIA bill is a top priority (this one takes the cake) before congress goes home for Christmas, but they can't pass the supplemental so DOD will not furlough civilians and contractors, both of which are supporting our troops in the war effort. Yessir, FOIA should certainly take priority over supporting national defense. Today we were notified that tonight, Tues 11 Dec, the Army and Marine Corp installations will be sent "an information letter, not a furlough notice". Official furlough notices go out in Jan., effective 23 Feb. How would Congress feel if they or their family members were issued furlough notices for Christmas? How many lives can they destroy with all this needless game playing. Congress has had this budget for a long, long time and should have passed the bills NLT 30 Sep 07, before the start of the FY 08.

  Pat Posted December 11, 2007 4:10 PM
• 39464
  

  Why does everybody say "if I had my way I'd throw out all of Congress", when what they really mean is "all of them except MINE"...year after year the same yahoos get re-elected and the power base remains the same. The system needs term limits - the president is limited to two consecutive terms, Congress should be also. Another solution - no term limits? OK, after two consecutive terms, EVERYONE, not just your district, gets to vote on whether or not you get to serve another term. Your decisions impact the whole country, not just your district, therefore, the whole country should have a voice in whether or not you get to serve more than two consecutive terms. This would disrupt the established power base and force true representation.

  fedworker Posted December 11, 2007 1:23 PM
• 39452
  

  What happened to Mr. Obey and Sen. Byrd's boastful assertion (last January) that all appropriations bills would be passed before 30 Sep? Appears our Congress - which is responsible for enacting the appropriations bills - is incapable of performing a critical, constitutional responsibility: enacting appropriations bills for the operation of the Federal government. I've always been taught, "The President proposes, the Congress disposes." In my view, blaming the President for the Congress' lack of action is a blatant attempt to shift the blame for lack of action onto someone else. I'm not inclined to vote for my current representative or Senator in their next election - they have repeatedly failed to meet their Constitutional responsibilities - time to give someone else a chance.

  DG Posted December 11, 2007 12:17 PM
• 39450
  

  Looks like Nero is in charge of Congress, playing the fiddle while Rome burns

  dan ketter Posted December 11, 2007 12:07 PM
• 39407
  

  "A set of good-government bills, despite strong support, appear increasingly likely to be pushed to next year as Congress focuses on higher priority legislation before recessing."

  Why are they even discussing ANYTHING else other than the budget for FY08 (which started 2 MONTHS AGO), which IMPACTS OPERATIONS on ALL AGENCIES.

  What the hell is wrong with these idiots?!

  a taxpayer and a federal worker Posted December 11, 2007 7:50 AM
• 39395
  

  If I had my way just about every congressman and house representative would be out of a job effect immediately! I don't know where they are leading this country and I feel like we are in a no win situation. Years of complaints and concerns from the working man goes unheard - yet endless debates continue on the national level when these people should have their butts in the Washington DC doing the jobs that they were hired to do - taking care of us before taking care of them. I know this will go nowhere - as usual.

  Diane Horvath Posted December 10, 2007 11:13 PM
• 39363
  

  I wish we could tell Congress they won't get paid either until the bills are passed. Wishful thinking.

  GOW5 Posted December 10, 2007 2:17 PM