you know how we can't trust medicine advertised on TV - well we

[donsu]

can't trust bills passed by congress in the middle of the night either.

america, the country that tortures with the help of the Red Sox plane.

[Poppyseedman]

1. We can't trust bills passed by congress in broad daylight

You mean those T.V. commercials for new drugs that will fix all of our problems as long as the side effects don't kill us first can't be trusted either? :evilgrin:

[KaliTracy]

2. you are right. "There is no legislative process anymore," said Fred

Wertheimer the legendary open-government activist who has been monitoring Congress since 1963. "Bills are decided in advance of going to the floor."

From:

Back-room dealing a Capitol trend
GOP flexing its majority power
By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff | October 3, 2004

First of three parts

WASHINGTON -- Dismayed that the technology company Accenture had located its headquarters in Bermuda, thereby avoiding paying hundreds of millions of dollars in US taxes, the House Appropriations Committee voted 35-17 this summer to strip the firm of a $10 billion Homeland Security contract.

It was a rare moment of bipartisan agreement and an important victory for those who decry corporate tax loopholes. But it didn't last long. The Rules Committee, the all-powerful gatekeeper of the Republican leadership, prevented the measure from reaching the House floor. In a further show of its power to pick and choose what the full House can vote on, the Rules Committee allowed the House to vote on a ban on future Homeland Security contracts to overseas companies -- but let the $10 billion flow to Accenture, which spent $2 million last year lobbying the government.

The Accenture episode is emblematic of the way business is conducted in the 108th Congress, where a Republican leadership has sidelined legislation unwanted by the Bush administration, even when a majority of the House seemed ready to approve it, according to lawmakers, lobbyists, and an analysis of House activities. With one party controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, and having little fear of retaliation by the opposing party, the House leadership is changing the way laws are made in America, favoring secrecy and speed over open debate and negotiation. Longstanding rules and practices are ignored. Committees more often meet in secret. Members are less able to make changes to legislation on the House floor. Bills come up for votes so quickly that elected officials frequently don't know what's in them. And there is less time to discuss proposed laws before they come up for a vote.

"There is no legislative process anymore," said Fred Wertheimer, the legendary open-government activist who has been monitoring Congress since 1963. "Bills are decided in advance of going to the floor."

more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/10/03/back_room_dealing_a_capitol_trend/


**
October 11, 2004
Corruption of Congress
Whichever political party has a majority in a given elected body also has greater power - typically the power to set agendas, control committees, etc. Naturally such power can be seriously abused and there are plenty examples of all parties abusing such power from time to time. Recently, though, Republican abuses of such power have been egregious.

Keven Drum summarizes some highlights of a three-part series that appeared in the Boston Globe:

For the entire 108th Congress, just 28 percent of total bills have been open to amendment — barely more than half of what Democrats allowed in their last session in power in 1993-94.

Congressional conference committees, made up of a small group of lawmakers appointed by leaders in both parties, added a record 3,407 "pork barrel" projects to appropriations bills for this year's federal budget, items that were never debated or voted on beforehand by the House and Senate and whose congressional patrons are kept secret. This compares to just 47 projects added in conference committee in 1994, the last year of Democratic control.


more: http://atheism.about.com/b/a/118147.htm

****

LAME DUCK CONGRESS VOTES DEC. 7TH
Land Rights Network
Dec. 2, 2004

Congress Sets Another Lame Duck Session
Late Night, Back Room, Rushed Decisions Dangerous

It’s hard to believe but Congress is coming back for another Lame Duck Session December 7th. Pearl Harbor Day. Another possible sneak attack.

Action Items Listed Below

All landowners, ranchers, inholders and other allies must work hard to make sure there is no sneak attack on your rights next week.

more: http://www.freedomwriter.com/issue32/am2.htm

**


Congress votes to ban paintball in US
Jerry A. Gaston
April 2004

In a very late night session, under the cover of darkness, the United States Congress voted to ban paintball in the United States with the passage of the "America Safety Act." Although, the bill was sold to congress as an anti-terrorism bill, certain parts of the bill ban air powered rifles and airguns that fire objects at a rate of speed over 100 mph.

The 313-100 vote, with 22 abstentions, was rushed through congress and hurried into law. The bill now goes to the Senate for a final vote. The bill not only bans paintball, but allows the FBI to spy on paintball players secretly. Anyone that uses an air-powered gun will be secretly spied on, without the approval of a judge, without probable cause.

more: http://www.paintballtimes.com/Article.asp?ID=156