Friday
Dec182009
Senate Democrats Fed Up With GOP Gamesmanship On Defense Bill
Friday, December 18, 2009 at 3:30PM
Travis Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) said Friday that they are pleased to see three Senate Republican break from their party to invoke cloture on the Defense Appropriations bill.
“All I know is that 60 Democrats along with three Republicans decided that the welfare of our military forces was more important than legislative gamesmanship, with respect to health care and other issues,” said Reed.
The Senators also expressed their great displeasure when Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) motioned for unanimous consent to proceed to the bill where consent was denied.
“In the past when we’ve had votes on cloture with respect to military appropriations, generally after cloture was invoked we have moved very quickly to get the resources into the field,” said Reed.
“One of the reasons I decided to run, was because I think the system here has to change and the parlor games and gamesmanship that was going on [are] another example why Americans are outraged,” said Begich.
The Department of Defense appropriations bill would provide $508 billion for the department’s regular activities for the next fiscal year. Quick passage will enable the Senate to take up debate on its healthcare bill.
Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) said Friday that they are pleased to see three Senate Republican break from their party to invoke cloture on the Defense Appropriations bill.
“All I know is that 60 Democrats along with three Republicans decided that the welfare of our military forces was more important than legislative gamesmanship, with respect to health care and other issues,” said Reed.
The Senators also expressed their great displeasure when Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) motioned for unanimous consent to proceed to the bill where consent was denied.
“In the past when we’ve had votes on cloture with respect to military appropriations, generally after cloture was invoked we have moved very quickly to get the resources into the field,” said Reed.
“One of the reasons I decided to run, was because I think the system here has to change and the parlor games and gamesmanship that was going on [are] another example why Americans are outraged,” said Begich.
The Department of Defense appropriations bill would provide $508 billion for the department’s regular activities for the next fiscal year. Quick passage will enable the Senate to take up debate on its healthcare bill.
Reader Comments