House unknowingly votes for override

[neuvocat]

Source: 2theadvocate.com

The Louisiana House unanimously agreed to override Gov. Bobby Jindal's rejection of $98 million in federal stimulus dollars to expand unemployment benefits. But it's unlikely most representatives even knew what they were voting for.

Rep. Avon Honey, D-Baton Rouge, quietly slipped the language to sidestep Jindal's refusal of the stimulus dollars into a worker's compensation bill on the House floor Monday evening in the final minutes of House work for the day. There was little discussion about what the changes did.

"The amendment is merely adding language for the requirements for ARRA, and I ask for your favorable adoption," Honey told lawmakers, never explaining that ARRA stands for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal stimulus act.


Read more: http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/45405982.html?showAll=y&c=y

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Not exactly sneaky, just a very good reminder for Congress members to read what they vote on.

[Ian David]

1. Fuck them and fuck Bobby The Exorcist. n/t

[guyton]

2. required reading ...

I keep thinking that legislatures (and executive officers) should be required to read and understand anything they're voting on ... on penalty of impeachment.

None of these thousand-page budgets. None of these obscure regulations.

Of course, they'd have to delegate authority to the people actually doing work. But as long as there was some kind of accountability, it sure couldn't be worse than the current system!

[Posteritatis]

6. Reading a thousand-page budget wouldn't kill them either

One legislator, or a couple working together, some aides for reference, summaries, sanity checks? That'd be doable at a basic level in a working day, or a few more to a productive level of comprehension.

These things aren't exactly drafted overnight. Having to actually put their eyes on the things will reduce the number of bills that get hurled around, of course - as it should - but for something as gigantic and complex as the government of the United States there's always going to be some phonebookian pieces of legislation. I refuse to believe that you can't put some congresscritters up there who can deal with those, though.

[Garbo 2004]

11. That's what they have staff for...to analyze pending legislation & amendments.

But sometimes last minute things are added and there's just the author's/sponsor's characterization of the amendment without time for adequate impact analysis.

[tomm2thumbs]

3. ha ha! bobby got his jindal kicked

whatcha bet he lets it stay because he really wanted to use it as an issue just for his candidacy and he can still have his cake and eat it too now.

[burning rain]

9. I wouldn't be surprised if Jindal had quietly put the word out.

Let at least a few key and trusted people on each side of the lege know that the guv knew they wanted the stim and deep down he did too but no-one can say that in public but see if you just put this through unanimously everyone will come out equally stinky and therefore no-one will stink and we'll all be happy. C'mon, that unanimous vote is overly convenient, and letting one little Dem state rep crow would be a small price to pay.

[DeSwiss]

4. Yuck, yuck....

- K&R!!!

[Dr.Phool]

5. Maybe they're like the Florida Legislature.

They can't fucking read.

[MikeNearMcChord]

7. Way to GO!!! Rep Avon Honey!!!

This weeks hero of the Democratic Party


Here is his page.
http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=63

E-mail him thanks!
[e-mail]

[magellan]

8. Done. It's so funny that the LA Repugs are moaning about this

It's fine when they do it to protect their business buddies, but wrong, wrong, wrong when a Dem does it FOR THE PEOPLE. :nopity:

Rep. Honey, big thumbs up!

[burning rain]

10. See #9, above.

I suspect this may be a case of Republicans disingenuously complaining about an outcome that they'd actually desired.

[Blue_Tires]

12. lol

moron state reps can't be bothered to read the bill until its too late...