I don't often sing the praises of Maria Cantwell, but she deserves to be thanked for her vote against the bulk of her party, including Patty Murray, in support of a purer version of earmark reform. In short, Cantwell supports a more comprehensive definition of earmarks to include money for local projects funneled through federal agencies, as well as money designated in conference report language rather than the actual bill text. The whole point of the reform in question is to ensure transparency of and accountability for such earmarks in the legislative process. Good for Cantwell.
Earmarks are but a small portion of the federal budget, but highly symbolic as a demonstration of how serious Congress is going to be about requisite fiscal austerity. Cantwell has not been known for her spending restraint, but I applaud her vote for greater transparency in the earmark process.
Posted by Eric Earling at January 13, 2007 09:19 PM | Email ThisI can't do it. Can't thank that woman. Maybe someday, but not yet.
Maybe if she comes clean on the Ron Dozeaur "affair" I will, but not now.
Sorry
Posted by: Chris on January 13, 2007 10:29 PMHa, ha, ha! I was just thinking. Can you imagine a post like this on The Daily Kos or Horse's Patoot if a Republican did something mildly agreeable to the left?
Ha, ha, ha! Not hardly.
My ex said that alot....."just saying"
Posted by: chris on January 13, 2007 10:50 PMif it can change a person's voting record history and political tilt, i'm all for it. till then, it's a simple 'thank you' to her and that's it. probably won't counteract all the 96% of things she does that I dislike, but hey--that's politics.
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on January 14, 2007 08:08 AMThanks for not taxing us blind.
Also thanks to
-All the kids in Seattle who didn't steal my car this week.
-Anyone who didn't spray paint up my neighborhood on Friday.
-Anyone who didn't kill any babies, other humans or puppies/kittens this week.
Keep up the good work- we're proud of you.
Posted by: Andy on January 14, 2007 06:54 PMI'm not very proud of the kids in Seattle, nor the government that lets them go home after a car theft.
They can't be traced during a theft if they are in a stolen car, so it is their safest and perfered get away scenerio.
Posted by: GS on January 14, 2007 07:32 PMI guess it's like the old saw about how an infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of typewriters will eventually recreate Shakespeare. If you give Cantwell enough votes, eventually she'll do something that resembles intelligent thinking.
I wouldn't worry about it. It probably won't happen any time again soon.
Posted by: johnny on January 15, 2007 01:39 PMDaily Kos, Talking Points Memo, Eschaton are always singing praises of reasonable lawmakers, whether they're Republican, Democrat or Independent. It's nice to see the same happening here at Sound Politics. Thank goodness folks like you and your deluded comments aren't major contributions to this site. Otherwise, Sound Politics would be a one-party show: There'd be a lot fewer readers.
Posted by: km on January 16, 2007 01:39 AMDaily Kos, Talking Points Memo, Eschaton are always singing praises of reasonable lawmakers, whether they're Republican, Democrat or Independent. It's nice to see the same happening here at Sound Politics. Thank goodness folks like you and your deluded comments aren't major contributions to this site. Otherwise, Sound Politics would be a one-party show: There'd be a lot fewer readers.
Posted by: km on January 16, 2007 01:39 AM