Harry Reid finally reads the bill

As you know, on Friday, the Senate passed the House version of the temporary extension of the FAA authorization. Senator Harry Reid (D. Nv.) finally let the House bill come to the Senate floor.  So, after two weeks of furlough, the FAA is now back in business, at least until September 16.  But, here is what you may not know.

Democrats in the Senate now are claiming that they agreed to the House bill because the Republicans in the House agreed that the Secretary of Transportation could “waive” any cut off of federal subsidies to small airports if such a cut off would harm the community. 

The Republicans compromised is the inference.

Not true…the “waiver” provision was in the House bill all along. 

Granted, it is the last clause in the monstrously long 6 page House bill, but, here is what it says:

(d) Waivers- The Secretary may waive subsection (a)(1)(B) with respect to a location if the Secretary determines that the geographic characteristics of the location result in undue difficulty in accessing the nearest medium or large hub airport.

That was the language of the House bill as passed on July 20.

Why do I feel as if I am imposing when I ask our lawmakers to actually read a proposed bill before they either pass it, or refuse to pass it?

 

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SoundOffSister

The Sound Off Sister was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and special trial attorney for the Department of Justice, Criminal Division; a partner in the Florida law firm of Shutts & Bowen, and an adjunct professor at the University of Miami, School of Law. The Sound Off Sister offers frequent commentary concerning legislation making its way through Congress, including the health reform legislation passed in early 2010.

10 Comments

  1. TomL on August 6, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    I read this and then went back and re-read the other post from August 4th and listened to the video and all I can say is ‘ My goodness’?We are doomed



  2. Dimsdale on August 6, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    They should be able to read it and comprehend it, such that they can competently defend their decisions to support/oppose it.
    ?
    We see none of that now.



  3. GdavidH on August 6, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    SOS, you feel as if you are imposing because they see you as imposing. Serfs don’t question the Lords……..For now.?



  4. Plainvillian on August 6, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    Lawyers/politicians measure words by the pound.? Why should they even notice a 6 page bill?



  5. winnie888 on August 7, 2011 at 6:28 am

    Ha…”monstrously long 6 page House bill”…God bless your sarcastic sense of humor, SOS.? It’s monstrously entertaining.
    Fluency:? ability to read text accurately and quickly.? Apparently the senate can do neither.



    • Dimsdale on August 7, 2011 at 10:25 am

      I gave a snort at that one too!? 😉



  6. Tim-in-Alabama on August 7, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    When you’re talking about Sen. Harvey Rude4, the D stands for Dumb.?



    • winnie888 on August 8, 2011 at 6:39 am

      I kinda like “debutante” and “dainty”, too.? 🙂



    • Tim-in-Alabama on August 8, 2011 at 8:39 am

      I just think of Dumb and the Democrat Party symbol.



  7. SeeingRed on August 8, 2011 at 2:00 pm

    Honestly – why read a Bill when you are told what way to vote? anyway?? Our system is broken and as a result, broke.



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