Senator places hold on OPEN Government Act.
A bill called the OPEN Government Act has been locked down in the Senate by a secret hold. Public Citizen reports:
The bill in question is a bipartisan effort to update the seminal Freedom of Information Act to make the government more open and accountable. It recently overwhelmingly passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. The House version of the bill, “Freedom of Information Act of 2007,” passed on March 15 by 308 to 117. More than one hundred organizations and thousands of citizens have expressed support for the bills.
Yet, when Senators Leahy and Cornyn tried to bring the bill to a vote on the floor last Thursday, the vote was blocked by “Senator Anonymous.” Some Republican senator called the Minority Leader’s office and objected to a vote on the bill, but asked for anonymity and did not publicly state the reason for the hold.
Read Leahy’s reaction to the hold HERE.
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Of course it was a Repuke.
*sigh*
Why do they have such a problem with doing what the American People ask of them?
May 25th, 2007 at 9:53 pmThese people have no shame. Why do conservatives America?
May 25th, 2007 at 9:54 pmWhat we should all do is call our Senators’ offices and ask, point blank, if that Sen. is the one placing the hold.
Enough people call, and the pressure will flush the assbag out.
May 25th, 2007 at 9:54 pmHow can this “request” by an anonymous Senator be allowed to have any effect? By what law, or morality, can this anonymous Senator’s “request” be honored?
If true, this is reprehensible behavior by whoever is essentially taking orders from one anonymous individual…Senator Reid, is that YOU? Again, bowing to the “soft power” of someone who’s blocking what the people of this country want and deserve?
May 25th, 2007 at 9:54 pmWill someone please point me to the rules or bylaws that allow a “Senator Anonymous” to place a hold on legislation, as was done in this case?
Then point us to the idiot who thought such a law was a good idea. (Let me guess…that idiot is himself an anonymous Senator?)
May 25th, 2007 at 9:57 pmit was a republican senator, publicus
May 25th, 2007 at 10:04 pmsenator reid is a democrat….
Since when does a single Senator have the power to block a vote because he objects to it?
I never took a civics class so, maybe somebody more knowledgeable can explain if this is even an acknowledged procedure.
WTF is going on in this country???
May 25th, 2007 at 10:06 pmDid someone mention “obstructionist”?
Seriously, WTF? Does anyone else get the irony of an “Open Government” bill being blocked by a “Secret Hold”? Well, maybe it’s not irony. I guess it’s closer to business as usual for Republicans.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:17 pmlisten….. i’m going to chill out on this post dude….
when i learned that the most accounatable congress EVER
sold out the american people yesterday dude… i think it’s
time this weekend DUDE to take a chill pill DUDE
washington dude is totally bought out dude
stand strong we get superior service AT mcdonalds
and WE get the grease pits
and very much corruption is a reality DUDE
i think i’m just going to keep chillin DUDE
even though jimbo dude is ultimate and heavely awesome ROCK SOLID
integrity and truth dude…….. jimbo dude just better keep chillin dude :)
May 25th, 2007 at 10:17 pmAccording to the Washington Post (4/27/07):
May 25th, 2007 at 10:19 pmSenator Anonymous, there is someone I would like you to meet. Senator Anonymous, Senator Abby Normal. Senator Normal, Senator Anonymous.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:21 pmHave heard of this before and some one leaked who did it and then they took the hold off..A few year’s ago…Some one with more rules savi than I will know…Any one.?..Blessings
May 25th, 2007 at 10:22 pmIt’s got to be Senator Stevens (R-Alaska).
It’s got to be the pussy Democratic senators who won’t stand up to this absurd procedural move.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:22 pmIs it just me, or is it supremely ironic that a Senator has placed a secret hold on the OPEN Geovernment Act?
May 25th, 2007 at 10:35 pmLol it was probably Sen. McCain. He will do anything for his lover boy Dubya Dunce Decider Despot Dummy.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:36 pmRove paid somebody a visit Thursday.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:38 pmSome Republican senator called the Minority Leader’s office and objected to a vote on the bill, but asked for anonymity and did not publicly state the reason for the hold.
=
A slight breeze blew, and the Democrats fell over in fear.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:43 pmI think it was this douchbag: Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
That’s just my guess. That kind of move is right up his alley.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:49 pmWhat’s the problem here? 2 Democrat Senators are told by 1 “secret Republican” to jump, and they say how high. What would you guys expect? If you thought that Ned Lament was going to come gliding to Earth on a cloud to save you, talk to Marcos, he’s got your money.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:58 pm#12 Sharon–Before the elections, a Senator put a “secret hold” on a bill–I think it was Senator Byrd, and it involved a database on earmarks or something. The Sunlight Foundation wanted to know the Senator’s name. Maybe it wasn’t Senator Byrd, but I seem to recall it was.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:03 pmDemocracy at work!
May 25th, 2007 at 11:07 pmNo Democratic senator would try to slow an open government bill. Highly unlikely.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:08 pmThis is, unfortunately a common tactic in the Senate. There is no real defense against it. Whoever said one person couldn’t make a difference was a fool. This rule needs to be banished to the netherworld. In an open government an anonymous hold is an abomination.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:17 pmSome thug Rethuglican is carrying water for KKKarl Rove. They do not want openness in government reporting at this crime family headquarters.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:30 pmMidwestblue, I think you are correct. Remember a little about it now, then some one leaked he did it and he pulled his hold, I think….Blessings
May 25th, 2007 at 11:35 pmI think what everybody is thinking is the hold road to nowhere Stevens put on the bill that would guarantee publication of government spending. Or it was that POS Coburn putting a hold on the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act. Or that POS (I know, repetitive) Coburn putting a hold on a resolution that would honor an environmentalist. Or that POS Coburn (yeah, it gets tiring) putting a hold on a bill banning cockfighting. Oklahoma, you guys need to reign in your hillbilly.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:51 pmSo that is what Karl Rove’s secret visit to capitol hill the other day was about. The House needs to get on passing the bill to banish this rule like the Senate did. And then let the madman veto it. Boy will that stink to high heaven. The most secretive president in history vetoes a bill to foster open government.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:03 amLegislation by ambush eh? How in the hell is that possible that one senator can hold up a bill without saying why or even saying who he is? How do we know the minority leader isn’t just lying?
“I won’t say why and I won’t say who but this bill is being held back from a vote. Okay? Okay.” Should have done that on the Iraq funding bill.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:43 amIt is because of crap like that,that is making me run. This shit gets so old!!!
May 26th, 2007 at 1:59 amTony Van Pelt
Indiana Dem
District 44
I will be running vs- Brent Steele (R-Indiana)
Any prayer would help
Send that freedom-hating, anti-Democracy Republican to Gitmo.
May 26th, 2007 at 2:24 amWhen people start blathering about about how the major political parties are part of the same corrupt system, I remind them that the Dems gave us FOIA, while the Republicans fought it tooth and nail. It sometimes shuts them up.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:44 amA criminal enterprise cannot thrive in the light of day.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:28 amWhy can’t they just bring the bill to the floor anyway. A “secret hold” should not be recognized. If the Senator objects to the bill, then they should show integrity by not remaining annoymous. Only a dishonest coward would hide behind the name “Senator Annoymous”.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:40 am#
#12 Sharon–Before the elections, a Senator put a “secret hold†on a bill–I think it was Senator Byrd, and it involved a database on earmarks or something. The Sunlight Foundation wanted to know the Senator’s name. Maybe it wasn’t Senator Byrd, but I seem to recall it was.
Comment by midwestblue — May 25, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
It was both Sen. Byrd and Sen. Stevens (Alaska). See this link:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/ index.php?title=Federal_Funding_Accountability_and_Transparency_Act#.22Secret.22_holds
May 26th, 2007 at 8:43 amIndiana Senate Candidate 08 - good luck… you’ll need more than prayers. You’ll need lots of money, too. Do lots of hand shaking and do public appearances every chance you. Voters love when a candidate takes the time to meet them face to face.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:51 amimpeach…
Thanks for the link. It helps explain why someone would put a hold on a bill especially since the 109 Congress just dumped bills on the Senate without time to read the bill before voting. I would prefer that Senator and Congressman and Congresswomen take the time needed to read and understand a bill before voting for the bill. I don’t understand why the hold has to be “secret”. A Senator should just be able to state that they need more time to read the bill and request a “hold” for a defined time period.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:56 amPerhaps step one should be to amend the OPEN government act to require that anyone placing a hold on a bill be oublicly identified. Step two should be to amend the OPEN government act to require that anyone adding a provision to a bill be publicly identified.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:53 amThis government of ours is getting more and more surreal. I can’t keep up with the issues to be outraged about! We are being bombarded by one outrage after another. What is it going to take to get the government back in the hands of the people? These monsters have got to be stopped.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:26 pmThanks to ThinkProgress for getting the word out. We are making some headway in smoking out the secret hold culprit. Let us know on http://www.theWatchdogBlog.org if you get a response from a Republican senator one way or another.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:28 pmWhoever said one person couldn’t make a difference was a fool. This rule needs to be banished to the netherworld. In an open government an anonymous hold is an abomination.
Comment by JPark — May 25, 2007 @ 11:17 pm
Yeah, da*n that senator for daring to try to get open debate on this open government bill! ;)
May 28th, 2007 at 12:45 am“No Democratic senator would try to slow an open government bill. Highly unlikely.”
Comment by Bauer, Jack — May 25, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
Noooo, not a Democrat. What’s that? Robert Byrd did it, too? Crap!
“I think what everybody is thinking is the hold road to nowhere Stevens put on the bill that would guarantee publication of government spending. ”
Comment by JPark — May 25, 2007 @ 11:51 pm
Nice try J. Did you deliberately leave Byrd (aka “The King of Pork) out or did you really not know? :
“In a new twist in this week’s Capitol Hill whodunnit, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., acknowledged Thursday that he also placed a “secret hold” on legislation that would open up the hidden world of government contracts to public scrutiny. …”
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/144670
“They call me ‘The Pork King,’ they don’t know how much I enjoy it.” - Sen. Robert Byrd
“West Virginia has always had four friends,” Byrd said, “God Almighty, Sears Roebuck, Carter’s Liver Pills, and Robert C. Byrd.”
http://www.cagw.org/ site/ PageServer?pagename=news_byrddroppings
Dang it. He admits to being King of Pork, believes in God, shops at Sears and belonged to the KKK? Whatever is a liberal to do? One of these days he’s gonna do something you all really object to, huh? ;)
May 28th, 2007 at 1:28 am#18, it was not Cornyn. He helped WRITE this bill with Leahy. As much as you’d like to think it was him, it was not.
You can also eliminate the co-sponsors of the bill as ones who put the secret hold on the bill. Here is a list of the 10 co-sponsors, so you can also cross off Isakson and Specter from the list of possible suspects.
May 28th, 2007 at 8:25 amFYI. The Society of Professional Journalists (at spj.org) is having its members contact their senators to try to find the identity of the secret senator.
May 31st, 2007 at 1:53 pm