The Shame of Suspensions
The Senate plans to take up the so-called "Coburn Omnibus" today – a package of bills thus far held up by Sen. Coburn for good reasons ranging from: it’s wasteful spending to it expands government to it duplicates a current project to it increases the already record high deficit.
FreedomWorks "Key Votes" the bill here.
Heritage explains just how bad it is here.
And Sen. Coburn explains himself here.
More troubling than the ineptitude and out of control spending this bill represents, is the continued pattern of politics over policy and avoidance in both the Senate and the House.
In the Senate, leadership is avoiding debate and accountability by letting Senators hide behind the anonymity of voice votes. It is hardly too much to ask that our tax dollars be allowed some debate, and maybe even an amendment here and there. As Heritage points out, of the 890 bills passed so far by the 110th Congress, only 50 have been debated.
And the House is no better. Over there, rather than voice votes, billions are eased through "under suspension." A device aimed at legislative expedience traditionally reserved for inconsequential bills such as the renaming of post offices, the price tag on these bills has been inching higher and higher.
Sometimes the bills are laughable, like H.R. 1464: the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2008, a bill that gives money to other countries to take care of their "rare felids and rare canids." Tigers are great, but this comes at $5 million a year from 2009-2013. And, because this should be such a no-brainer bill apparently, it was under suspension meaning no amendments are allowed, there is no motion to recommit, and debate is limited to only 40 minutes.
Other times, the bills are a big deal and open debate with amendments would probably lead to better policy and ideas. However, the majority gets to avoid what they consider sticky issues by bringing up serious legislation under these suspended rules.
Gas prices and energy are probably the biggest issues on the hearts and minds of Americans today. The population is clamoring for relief. But rather than make the choice to have real debate and possibly come up with a workable solution that would increase supply, Dems are choosing to throw out one token energy bill after another all under suspension so that no amendments that would really make a difference like drilling in the OCS can ever come up for debate.
This suspension pile-on is insulting to taxpayers. Real issues never see the light of debate and millions of dollars here and there, on bills that are given little consideration, quickly become billions. According to the RSC, in the first six months of 2008 alone $35.8 billion in authorizations over the next five years and $43.6 billion in mandatory spending have come up under suspension in the House.
Together with the Senate’s voice vote screen, these votes add up to billions of your tax dollars that Congress chooses not to dignify with debate. It’s an insulting practice of political expedience over policy that treats our taxes like monopoly money. Rather than use voice votes and suspension of the rules for programs that help foreign crane populations (H.R. 1771: $5 million each fiscal year 2009-2013) and otherwise spend my money, Congress should reserve these tactics for the really important, worthy endeavors like HRes. 1144 – expressing support for the designation of a Frank Sinatra Day.
