Re: OT: Political


Ed Jay wrote:
> If I understand correctly, the US House of Representatives voted to allow
> granting federal land to oil companies so they could build new refineries.
> I'm not sure who is to bear the costs of building those refineries, but
> what is the value of the land and who paid for it?
>
> US taxpayers are footing the bill instead of the oil companies. The oil
> companies are making record profits for the second year in a row at the
> expense of the taxpayers. Why then are the taxpayers expected to
> essentially pay the oil companies so they can make even more profit at
> taxpayer expense?
>
> Think about this as you continue to pay $3+ for a gallon of gas. Think
> about this when it's time to elect our representatives next year. We need
> to throw these clowns out of office. Do it!
>
> Ed Jay (remove M to respond)

Ed:

Did you see how they got the bill passed? It was originally scheduled
for a five-minute vote, but after the alloted time the vote was 212-210
against passage. The Republicans then proceeded to keep the vote open
for another FORTY MINUTES while Tom Delay ran around buttonholing
Republican members trying to get them to change their votes. Finally,
two did, resulting in passage by the same 212-210 margin.

Lots of questions here. Why is the indicted Tom Delay apparently still
the de facto head of the House Republicans? What was done to convince
these two members to switch sides- threats of retaliation? Promises of
future rewards? Why do the House Republicans feel they are entitled to
change the rules in the middle of the game? Will Americans continue
to put up with this corruption?

If you don't trust my account, you can read about the vote here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051008/ap_on_go_co/katrina_energy

Or you can download a video of the vote here:

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/10/07/house-block-vote/

David Koppelman

.