FACT CHECK: Debunking a bogus claim about Clinton's legislative record.

[mantis]

Not sure if this has been posted already...very interesting read.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/129976/page/1

[woolldog]

1. I don't see the point in only

considering bills that Clinton or Obama solely sponsored?

Aren't most important bills the result of co-sponsorship?

[democrattotheend]

2. No, it does not work that way

Cosponsoring a bill just means signing onto it. The original sponsors generally do the work of authoring the bills and getting them through the Senate.

I thought some things were off when I saw that e-mail. This article seems a little flawed too though, as it does not distinguish between bills and resolutions. Resolutions are typically symbolic and do not carry any authority. The amount of work required to pass a resolution is much less, as it does not require going through committee and the president does not have to sign them.

I found this e-mail when I was trying to find Clinton's legislative accomplishments. To this day, I still do not know what her big legislative accomplishments are. Can a Clinton supporter help me on this?

[woolldog]

3. So then

Obama's work with Lugar doesn't count under this classification? I don't see it on the list.

[woolldog]

4. Anyone?.......Anyone?......

[democrattotheend]

12. That should count. He was an original sponsor of that.

A bill can have more than 1 original sponsor, i think. But cosponsors simply sign onto bills. When I interned in the House we tracked bills we cosponsored but the chief of staff said we did not usually do a lot to get them passed because they were other members' bills. Cosponsoring is just a way of signing on to show support.

[woolldog]

15. Well it's not on the list.

Neither is Obama's google for government initiative. The list only includes bills where Obama or Clinton was the sole original sponsor.

btw, thanks for the info on "co-sponsoring"

[rodeodance]

5. prob. true. But that is another category for another day.

[rodeodance]

6. "A misleading e-mail has been making the rounds, alleging that Clinton"

whow---



FACT CHECK
Substance Abuse

Debunking a bogus claim about Clinton's legislative record.
By Jess Henig | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Apr 1, 2008 | Updated: 12:42 p.m. ET Apr 1, 2008


Summary
A misleading e-mail has been making the rounds, alleging that Clinton has fewer legislative accomplishments than Obama, and that they are less substantive. We've had questions about it from a number of readers, and blogs have jumped into the fray. So what's the real story on the Senate careers of the Democratic presidential candidates?

We find that the e-mail is false in almost every particular:

It sets up a face-off between apples and, well, broccoli, comparing only the Clinton-sponsored bills that became law with all bills sponsored or cosponsored by Obama, whether they were signed into law or not.

It includes legislation Obama sponsored in the Illinois state Senate, a very different legislative body.

It tells us that Obama has sponsored more legislation than Clinton, when in fact he has sponsored less.

It implies that Obama has passed more bills into law than Clinton, when the opposite is true.
Contrary to the e-mail's assertions, Clinton's and Obama's contributions are not qualitatively different, and quantitatively, Clinton has the edge.

Analysis
Several alert FactCheck.org readers have passed on the following e-mail, which purports to compare the legislative effectiveness of Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.). We reprint it verbatim:

You judge for yourself!

Quite impressive!! It?s unfortunate that this information is not being communicated effectively.

Let's take a closer look at who's really qualified and or who's really working for the good of all of us in the Senate. Obama or Clinton.

[rodeodance]

7. REC

[rodeodance]

8. "We find that the e-mail is false in almost every particular:"

[woolldog]

9. I'd like to see more discussion of this post.

I think it's a worthwhile post.

rodeodance: I'm curious, what do you consider to be Hillary's most important piece of legislation that was passed?

[rodeodance]

10. Her bill to help with respite care, Families are burdened win an

an elderly --or sick--say cancer patient is the end of life phase.
Nursing homes are too expensive.

. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.

[democrattotheend]

13. Did that pass and get signed into law?

I'm not challenging you, just want to be clear here.

[woolldog]

14. thank you rodeodance.

That's good to know. I was genuinely curious.

[kevinmc]

11. If they are comparing whos has done the most in the Senate ,,, they both lose to McCain....

waste of energy whining who has done what.