Harry Reid to drop IMF from Ukraine bill

[FarCenter]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will drop a provision to reform the International Monetary Fund from a bill to help Ukraine — a move that could clear the way to send an aid and sanctions package to the president’s desk.

Republicans had balked at President Barack Obama’s call to include the language, vowing to reject the provisions in the House. Reid acknowledged that while the Ukraine package would most likely have passed the Senate, it was “headed to nowhere” in the GOP-led House.

“I feel very strongly about IMF reform; we need to get that done,” the Nevada Democrat told reporters Tuesday. “But this bill is important. As [Secretary of State] John Kerry said yesterday, he wants both of them, but the main thing is to get the aid now. So I’m following John Kerry’s lead.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/mitch-mcconnell-ukraine-aid-senate-104992.html

[rdharma]

1. I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you! Who could have seen this coming?

"Reid signaled on Tuesday evening that the Senate would vote on the Ukraine bill on Thursday, but Republicans have pushed demands to secure amendment votes on even more changes — such as one involving energy exports to Ukraine."

You don't say! They've been planning this for a while. For more background, check out this DU thread from last Sep....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10744668

[840high]

2. Thanks for link

[bluestate10]

3. Any person who calls themselves a progressive, moderate, socialist or any

moderate or left leaning person that sits at home on election day in November is making an enormous mistake. If republicans are anywhere near powerful enough to freeze up the workings of government they will do so.

[rdharma]

4. Agreed! nt

[joshcryer]

5. Well, certainly, if it helps Putin, it helps the GOP.

So it goes without saying that they would be against this.

[rdharma]

6. This helps Putin? How so?

What are you talking about?

[joshcryer]

7. Blocking an LNG flood into the markets helps Putin.

Because it keeps the cost of gas high. If the US flooded the international markets with its gas (which it will likely do in the next two years) the price drops.

[rdharma]

8. Price drops? Buwahahahahhahahha!

No. The price doesn't "drop".

The prices for US domestic consumption will spike.

In addition to higher gas prices in the US this will make US industry less competitive (due to higher energy prices), will grease the skids for more fracking and environmental destruction, and enrich the fat cats in the natural gas sector.

Win-win for the fat cats....... lose-lose for the average American. The fat cats get all the benefits...... and the average citizen is left to pay more for energy and risk other nasty "externalities".

Fug Brooke Alexander and the American Petroleum Institute.

Do you like the idea of a flat tax too? Just wondering.

[joshcryer]

9. Supply and demand.

The US is in a shale gas boom and soon to be shale oil. It's not going to magically stop because the GOP wants to save the environment.

[rdharma]

10. No. Crazy fracking sure isn't going to stop because the GOP "wants to save the environment".

Because they don't give a shit about the environment. You're right!

[joshcryer]

11. And, neither do the Democrats for the most part.

You get a few non-stake holders in the states that don't get as much money from it. But in states where it has boomed you won't find many Democrats against it.

[rdharma]

12. Time to change that, eh? nt