This is a class blog for the students of POLSCI 426: Congressional Politics at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
What is the point?
Why would either party, in this case the Republicans, make a half-hearted attempt to block a budget that will undoubtedly pass eventually by making amendments when they don't even have an alternative budget proposal in place? Partisanship like this demonstrates the time our so-called leaders waste on taking shots at each other rather than coming up with solutions to our very real problems.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2009
(164)
-
▼
March
(45)
- What has become of the D.C. full-vote measure? The...
- Gates: U.S. Not Prepared to Respond to North Korea...
- What is the point?
- U.S. Congress Cautiously Welcomes New Afghan Plan
- Democrats Agree on Budget's Outline
- Barney Frank, King of Pork
- Congress, Largest Landlord in the U.S.
- Democrats Take Knife to Obama's Budget
- Congressional Chestbeating?
- Administration launches plan to initially buy up h...
- Law Professor Who Advised Obama Says House AIG Bil...
- Feingold/Ryan unveil earmark veto plan
- Team Effort in the House to Overhaul Health Care
- What Would Happen Without Local Newspapers?
- Are earmarks really so bad?
- Hillbillies: Don't Worry
- Median Voter Theory in Action
- Lawmaker Tried to Aid Bank Partly Owned by Husband
- Steele In Hot Water Over Abortion Comments
- Senate Clears Spending After Fractious Debate
- Big Test for New Chairman
- Congress having difficulty evaluating its carbon f...
- Don’t Rely on Bush’s Signing Statements, Obama Orders
- Chinese harassed Navy Ship....
- Republicans Look for a Reliever in Kentucky
- Congress passes stopgap bill to avoid shutdown
- Senator in Search of the "Truth"
- House Passes Mortgage Bankruptcy Bill
- RNC member calls on Michael Steele to resign
- Republicans attempt to stall spending bill
- Feingold, Ryan, McCain unite to curb earmarks
- Feingold Opposes Spending Bill
- House Rep to Ban Gitmo Detainees from U.S. Soil
- Senate Debates $410 Billion '09 Spending Bill
- In Senate, Bipartisan Love of Earmarks
- Filibusters: The Senate’s Self-Inflicted Wound
- Bring on the bacon!
- Interesting videos on new Reps on Capitol Hill
- Any other Alternatives?
- Snow Cancels Pelosi's Plans
- The Phantom Filibuster
- Kansas Governor to head Department of Health and H...
- Kohl seeks 401(k) relief
- Frustrated G.O.P. Tries to Drive Wedge Between Oba...
- Hell Hath No Fury Like...
-
▼
March
(45)
2 comments:
While I agree that, for the most part, partisanship can stall the legislative process, I feel that in this case it is perfectly acceptable. To me, one of the greatest elements of our democracy is sharp and deep partisan divides. It's what keeps our system in check. With the gaining ground that moderates are making in both parties in both chambers of Congress, it is refreshing to see that our modern system can still produce rich political discourse. Regardless of who is in the majority/minority, it is always important for the minority to object the actions and policies of the majority.
However, the lack of an alternative budget is more a problem of the leadership in the Republican party than with our system as a whole. They very well could have waited the extra few days and submitted their proposal all at once, as opposed to showing an outline with no figures first.
While the factions in our government prevent tyranny, they also prevent results. A budget will always be passed (save for the Gingrich/Clinton debacle) regardless. With the pending legislative loophole to pass the budget with only 51 votes, the Democrats can afford to let the Republicans voice their concerns.
Republicans want to be one the side that opposes the Democrats so that if the budget goes bad, they can be the ones to say we had a different plan. And they do have a different plan, it just isn't reported anywhere, go figure. One has to go to more right slanted sites such CNS or FOXNews news to get information on the Republican proposals such as this one: http://cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46005
Post a Comment