The House that Pelosi Built
Posted by: Jonathan Constantine | 02/19/2008 7:49 AM
I was sent these formidable thoughts via illustrious Capitol Hill staffer Aron Movroydis:
The week of February 11th was business as usual for the House, run by Nancy Pelosi. In the midst of renaming four post offices, congratulating the New York Giants for their Super Bowl Victory, authorizing ocean exploration and a monument to be placed in Kalaupapa National Historical Park as well as other worthless business of the week, House Democratic leadership was actually forced to consider legislation that would allow for surveillance of cells similar to the ones that managed to kill three thousand people in one day. As of last Friday, the bill that would cut the red tape and the spectacle out of staying a step ahead of our enemies has expired leaving us vulnerable to our own shoelaces to trip over in addition to state sponsors and those who are already working within our own intelligence communities to weaken our clandestine advantages. The bill would also grant immunity to many large telecom companies, protecting them from terrorists who would like to sue them for cooperating with the federal government's efforts to prevent another 911.
As of last Wednesday FISA was ready to go as the Senate handed it back to House with a stamp of approval. Despite a forecasted easy passage in the House, Leadership (Pelosi/Hoyer) decided it would be better if we tied the hands of our intelligence community (much like it was before 911) and not to move the bill to the floor for a vote. Once again, the Senate passed the bill and a majority of members in the House had indicated that this was an important enough matter to drop partisan politics and issue a yes vote for this legislation (perhaps due to their consciences or more importantly the districts they represent). However, similar to the accusations made by the liberal media and Democrats in congress about the Bush Administration, House leadership decided to ignore the will of the American people and the needs of the President, the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and most notably, the Director of National Intelligence.
Steny Hoyer who dismissed the importance of FISA claimed that even if it expired, our intelligence community "would still have all the tools necessary." The Leader must have missed the statement of the DNI (which is currently still on the offices website) claiming, "We are already losing capability due to the failure to address liability protection." Those same phone companies who have been eager to help the intelligence community in the past are now reluctant to offer assistance due to two members of the House of Representatives who have chosen to deny the requests of the experts in the executive branch and fight the will of the legislative branch. Unfortunately, it seems that Pelosi and Hoyer are more likely to be in step with liberal blogs and organizations such as The Daily Kos and Moveon who have been fighting tirelessly against this legislation by issuing legislative alerts and form letters to ensue a grassroots movement.
SO WHAT HELD THEM UP?
Leadership did move one controversial bill to the floor. H. Res. 979, the bill to end legislative business for the week would find Harriet Miers and Joshua Bolten, in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with subpoenas duly issued by the Committee on the Judiciary. This is a matter that will be referred to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in an attempt to avert the Presidential privilege to withhold his aids from testifying before congress. This legal maneuver taken by the house will be expensive for taxpayers and will likely be resolved after the President leaves office at which time the entire purpose for this vote will have expired.
The week of February 11th was business as usual for the House, run by Nancy Pelosi. In the midst of renaming four post offices, congratulating the New York Giants for their Super Bowl Victory, authorizing ocean exploration and a monument to be placed in Kalaupapa National Historical Park as well as other worthless business of the week, House Democratic leadership was actually forced to consider legislation that would allow for surveillance of cells similar to the ones that managed to kill three thousand people in one day. As of last Friday, the bill that would cut the red tape and the spectacle out of staying a step ahead of our enemies has expired leaving us vulnerable to our own shoelaces to trip over in addition to state sponsors and those who are already working within our own intelligence communities to weaken our clandestine advantages. The bill would also grant immunity to many large telecom companies, protecting them from terrorists who would like to sue them for cooperating with the federal government's efforts to prevent another 911.
As of last Wednesday FISA was ready to go as the Senate handed it back to House with a stamp of approval. Despite a forecasted easy passage in the House, Leadership (Pelosi/Hoyer) decided it would be better if we tied the hands of our intelligence community (much like it was before 911) and not to move the bill to the floor for a vote. Once again, the Senate passed the bill and a majority of members in the House had indicated that this was an important enough matter to drop partisan politics and issue a yes vote for this legislation (perhaps due to their consciences or more importantly the districts they represent). However, similar to the accusations made by the liberal media and Democrats in congress about the Bush Administration, House leadership decided to ignore the will of the American people and the needs of the President, the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and most notably, the Director of National Intelligence.
Steny Hoyer who dismissed the importance of FISA claimed that even if it expired, our intelligence community "would still have all the tools necessary." The Leader must have missed the statement of the DNI (which is currently still on the offices website) claiming, "We are already losing capability due to the failure to address liability protection." Those same phone companies who have been eager to help the intelligence community in the past are now reluctant to offer assistance due to two members of the House of Representatives who have chosen to deny the requests of the experts in the executive branch and fight the will of the legislative branch. Unfortunately, it seems that Pelosi and Hoyer are more likely to be in step with liberal blogs and organizations such as The Daily Kos and Moveon who have been fighting tirelessly against this legislation by issuing legislative alerts and form letters to ensue a grassroots movement.
SO WHAT HELD THEM UP?
Leadership did move one controversial bill to the floor. H. Res. 979, the bill to end legislative business for the week would find Harriet Miers and Joshua Bolten, in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with subpoenas duly issued by the Committee on the Judiciary. This is a matter that will be referred to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in an attempt to avert the Presidential privilege to withhold his aids from testifying before congress. This legal maneuver taken by the house will be expensive for taxpayers and will likely be resolved after the President leaves office at which time the entire purpose for this vote will have expired.
