Paco
RealPoor Jedi
Joined: 13 Oct 2002
Posts: 12940
Location: Jacksonville, FL
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 Posted: 05/24/05 - 07:23 Post subject: Voting Patterns, Noteworthy Yet Unnoticed
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The Free Congress Commentary
Voting Patterns: Noteworthy Yet Unnoticed
By Paul M. Weyrich
May 24, 2005
Some interesting legislative activity has occurred in the U.S. House of
Representatives. You haven’t heard about it from the so-called “mainstream
media.” If the situation were reversed you would hear about it every day. It is
that conservative Democrats have voted with Republicans on high profile bills
since the GOP took control of the House of Representatives in January 1995.
Many conservative Democrats, who retired or lost their seats through
redistricting were replaced by Republicans. Some conservative Democrats, such as
Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX), changed parties. Thus, it would be reasonable to expect
to see in the House what we observe in the Senate - an ideological body with a
few moderates left.
This is not so. Even on bills which receive little coverage at least a fifth of
House Democrats are leaving their own party and joining with Republicans to pass
legislation. As Al Smith, the 1928 Democratic nominee, was fond of saying,
“Let’s look at the record:”
· The Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act (H.R. 1279): 71
Democrats left the Democratic Leadership to vote with the GOP Leadership in
support the bill.
· The Real ID Act of 2005 (H.R. 418): This bill would require uniform
standards for driver’s licenses and substantive documentation to obtain a
license, supposedly to catch illegal immigrants. 42 Democrats joined most
Republicans to pass the bill.
· The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (S. 5) received almost no
coverage but it attracted 50 Democrats and was passed by a wide margin.
· The Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act (H.R.  especially was denounced
by the Democratic Leadership as a sop to the rich. How many Democrats voted for
final passage? Once again, 42!
· The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (S. 256),
denounced by many Democrat leaders as hurting low income families, attracted 73
Democrats.
· The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6), which also was denounced as a
concession to the big oil companies, and which would allow drilling in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska, attracted 41 Democrats.
One-fifth of the Democratic Caucus was willing to vote with Republicans although
the Democratic Party opposed the energy bill.
· The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (H.R. 748) meant Members
had to cross the abortion lobby, to which Democrats are so indebted. 54
Democrats were willing to do so.
· The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (H.R. 800) awaits action
but already has 47 Democratic co-sponsors.
I didn’t mention some measures which have gained support from over half of the
Democratic Caucus. The Continuity in Representation Act (H.R. 841) would require
special elections in the event that a majority of Members of the House of
Representatives was killed. When the House voted on H.R. 841 most of the
Democratic Leadership wanted House Members to be appointed for the first time in
history. 122 Democrats said the GOP bill was fine and voted for its passage.
When H.R. 1544, the Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 1005,
was considered, 181 Democrats hopped on board.
And there is H.R. 366, The Vocational and Technical Education for the Future
Act. Ever heard of it? Neither had I but 197 Democrats saw fit to vote for it.
Likewise, on the Conference Report of H.R. 1268, the Iraq-Afghanistan/Tsunami
Supplemental with the Real ID Act provisions added,143 Members of the Democratic
Caucus supported the bill.
Much of the credit for passage of this legislation goes to House Majority Whip
Roy Blunt (R-MO.), who has proved to be as effective, but with a different
style, as Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), who held that post before he became House
Majority Leader. It was he who selected Blunt to be his chief deputy.
Not all of this can be attributed to Blunt’s skills. Some Democrats don’t want
to be associated with the policies of their own caucus. They are deserting their
party in numbers. This calls to mind that former Rep. Joe Waggoner (D-LA) had a
caucus of Conservative Democrats which regularly produced 40-65 Democrats who
voted with conservative Republicans. (Republicans had a larger liberal wing then
and without those Democrats President Nixon would not have produced anything.)
Let us suppose 40 to 50 Republicans regularly voted with Democrats. The media
would make this a top story every day. If 40 to 70 Republicans voted with
Democrats they effectively would have handed over control to Democrats. Numerous
measures (many rather low profile) supported by Democrats reveal what many
Members of the Democratic Caucus think of Democratic National Chairman Howard
Dean, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and
filmmaker Michael Moore. The answer is obvious. Not much.
Paul M. Weyrich is the Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.
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The Debt to the Penny
05/20/2005 $ 7,768,431,198,132.21
05/16/2005 $ 7,763,554,607,953.67
05/10/2005 $ 7,757,824,559,756.40
05/04/2005 $ 7,760,134,102,627.91
http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/opd/opdpenny
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