Guns Rule Congress
EmailABC’s Tom Shine reports from Washington:
Everyone loves credit cards. But Everyone hates the banks that issue them with all those fees and penalties.
So when Senator Chris Dodd unveiled his tough credit card bill, which placed sweeping restrictions on what the banks could do to the consumers who use their plastic, Senator Tom Coburn knew he had found the perfect vehicle to attach his gun amendment to.
He reasoned, correctly, that he could get enough senators, frightened by the mighty NRA, to support his provision allowing loaded, concealed weapons in national parks and once it became part of the credit card bill, he knew there was no way senators would kill the entire bill just to kill his gun amendment. It worked perfectly in the Senate.
But the Senate measure with guns attached posed a thorny problem for the House which had passed a weaker credit card bill earlier with no gun amendment attached to it. Pressured by the Obama Administration to pass the consumer friendly measure before their memorial day recess which starts in just two days house democratic leaders came up with the perfect solution to satisfy both sides.
When the Senate bill hits the House floor this morning, the gun amendment will be taken out so members can vote on it separately. It will pass. Then members will get to vote on the credit card bill without the gun amendment. It will pass. Once both bills pass, they will be "bundled together"and sent to the white house for that pre-memorial day signing photo opt.
So, when it comes to guns, house members will be able to say they voted for them and against them depending on their audience.
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You know, I hate bundling bills together like that. It’s underhanded. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all in favor of gun ownership and our rights to own guns. But it’s freakin dishonest to me to load on a bill something totally unrelated in an effort to force it through. And don’t give me, “It’s how the game is played in DC.”
If that’s the case then fire the whole lot of them and put some honest men and women in those chairs.
As to the credit card business. Though I do think credit card companies have been predatory in going after college students. But the problem is that they are just taking advantage of the bigger problem which is the lack of teaching fiscal responsibility. We’ve changed the way we consume and turned our nation into a nation built upon fostering debt.
If we could get back to a time where people could purchase without the need of credit we’d be in good shape. Though I don’t know if we ever will. Particularly when you have a government bent upon borrowing and creating money out of thin air.
Posted by: Hal | May 20, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am
I’m with Hal. It’s dishonest to bundle bills like that. It’s wrong to tag one bill on top of another in order to get it passed. I had thought that they vote on the bills separately, not together as one bill. (roll eyes)
Posted by: GWP | May 20, 2009, 11:24 am 11:24 am
While I am sick of this earmarking stuff, finally, this is one I approve of.
As a former NPS employee, I have seen too many victims of two legged animals in the National Parks.
As a youngster, my dad always had a pistol in his pack, regardless of where we were backpacking,fishing, or camping.
I too had occasion to reach for a pistol when confronted by a group of unsavory biker types at a very popular viewing spot. The rangers were summoned by another party, taking 45 minutes to arrive.By then, I and some of my kids would have been assaulted or worse, had I not made it known I was armed.
Wolves travel in packs folks…even the human kind.The mere presence of a firearm in the hands of one trained and willing to use it averted a tradgedy.
Putting your safety in the hands of others invites disaster. A responsible adult should always have the means to defend him or herself,especially when in the back-country.
Hal:- I agree with you, it is underhanded and sneaky to pass a bill this way. But, until earmarks are forbidden…that’s how the game is played. The anti-gunners have used the system to their advantage since 1968,this time they got a black eye, so they are pissed. Tough. Get used to it guys, the NRA, Gun Owners of America, and many state organizations are bringing the fight back to D.C..
Anyone opposing or imposing on the 2nd Amendment better think long and hard about their political future.
That’s the way it is!!!!
Posted by: mojavemike | May 20, 2009, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
Hal complains that it’s wrong to load a bill with unrelated agenda. That’s the way our system began, is, and always will be.It still works. NBS,a rabid gun hater,is screaming sour grapes, claiming Congress is afraid of the NRA. No NBC, it’s the voters they are listening to; the voters who appreciate the Constitution and it’s Amendments. The NRA represents the 90,000,000 gun owners who vote-just like Congress represents their constituency. All have a Constitutional right to gun ownership and God given right to self defense! From our cold dead hands, NBC!
Posted by: RDB | May 21, 2009, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm