Before you get your knickers in a twist, I am speaking about demanding single-purpose legislative bills will will allow any subject to be debated openly and be given a straight up-or-down vote -- without ambiguity and legislators waffling about why they voted on a particular bill.

The headline appears to have absolutely no connection with the subject matter of this blog until you realize that Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is attempting to use a defense bill featuring additional funding for continuing the manufacture and maintenance of the  the F-22 Raptor fighter jet to push through a piece of legislation that is seen as being sponsored by the gay community.

Yes, hard as it is to see what a gay issue has to do with a F-22 raptor or military spending, one needs only to highlight the duplicity of legislators who attempt to attach their partisan or special project bills to “must pass” or highly favorable legislation. Making it highly likely that their legislation will escape the scrutiny it deserves and that cowardly legislators, especially those beholden to the special interests, cannot vote against the bill without some further damage to their political career.

Therefore,I find it abhorrent that legislators on both sides of the aisle continue to attach bills to legislation which has little or nothing to do with their legislative initiatives.

Senator Leahy attempts the end-run …

In this case far-left liberal Senator Patrick Leahy has attached the “Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act” to the “Defense Authorization Act” imagining that there would be little or no resistance to the passage of the bill.

Blind-sided by fellow far-left liberal Barack Obama …

Unfortunately, the fight over the cost and necessity of additional F-22 Raptors is mucking up the works. President Barack Obama, no fan of the military and certainly no fan of military funding, has vowed to veto the bill if it arrives on his desk.  Is this the way we want to see our country governed? Pitting civil rights legislation against military spending? Adding tons of special interest pork to every bill that is passed – just to legally bribe legislators into supporting unfavorable bills. Providing them with “I brought home the bacon” excuses when they must face their constituents who clearly were against a particular piece of legislation.

Backroom politics …

Even worse – the conferees who operate in closed back rooms to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill before it is sent to the President for his signature can easily change the amendments to any legislation without further debate.

It’s time to clean up the Congressional Cesspool …

In these socially, economically and militarily troubled times, it is time to hold our legislators to account for their actions. No more legislative “tack-ons” to allow rascally legislators wiggle-room or plausible deniability for their actions. They either voted for the issue, abstained or were not present for the vote. Even the favored Obama tactic of voting “Present” for avoiding controversial votes with political consequences should be outlawed.

And the only way “We the People” can get their attention and prove that we are serious …

Legislators on both sides of the aisle count on the short memories of the American public or hope that emotional pleas on single-issue subjects such as abortion, global warming, healthcare, entitlements, etc. will persuade voters to overlook their past egregious actions and once again return them to office.

The only answer is …

We are living in dangerous times – brought upon us primarily by the government and legislators who are pandering to the wealthy, the powerful, and the politically-connected who can offer campaign funds and voter support in exchange for legislation and agency rulings which will benefit them – rather than the citizen or consumer. And the only way we can break this cycle is to rise up and kick the bastards out of office. Citizen-imposed term limits! 

In the meantime, be well, be safe and protect yourself and your family first.

-- steve

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OneCitizenSpeaking: Saying out loud what you may be thinking …

Why we can’t trust our legislators …

Our Congress is now comprised mostly of corrupt and/or complacent ideologues who pander to the special interests that offer campaign funding and voter support. More interested in feathering their own nests than performing their sworn duties to uphold the Constitution and represent their constituents in a fair and unbiased manner. You know our nation is in deep trouble when you find that:

“The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was called to order by the Honorable ROLAND W. BURRIS, a Senator from the State of Illinois. -- (Senate - July 15, 2009)”

Here is a man who appears to have allowed an innocent man to remain on death row even after he knew that someone else had confessed to the crime – all to aid his gubernatorial bid and in spite of the resignations of his deputy attorney general and the lead investigator over his disgraceful behavior. For more on the Roland Burris issue, you may want to read my blog entry “BURRIS: BLAGOJEVICH'S SENATE APPOINTMENT IS MORE THAN TAINTED ... HE'S IMMORAL!”

Reference Links:

For those who want to read the bills and see what Leahy is saying …

S. 909 - Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act; a bill to provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes.

 H.R.1913 - Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009; to provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes.

S.1390 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010; An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.