Where the Buck Stops
In a disingenuous article written for the Wall Street Journal, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) argue that their "cars for clunkers" legislation was a good idea until "Detroit auto industry lobbyists got involved." They disapprove of the amended bill that has emerged from the House of Representatives.
The two Senators seem to need a remedial course in basic civics.
Lobbyists represent before government the interests of all sorts of clients.
No lobbyist has ever introduced a bill on the floor of either House of Congress. No lobbyist has ever voted a bill out of committee. No lobbyist has ever voted for a bill on the floor of either the House or the Senate.
Those things are done by Congressmen and Senators.
It is the role of lobbyists to make arguments for their causes. It is the job of legislators to decide. When bad decisions are made, the fault lies with those who cast the votes.
Unlike Senators Collins and Feinstein, many of us would object to both the bill they introduced in the Senate and the one that emerged from the House. Various interests can make those arguments with our representatives. When decisions are made, good or bad, credit or blame belongs to those representatives.
Those representatives should not be passing the buck.
The two Senators seem to need a remedial course in basic civics.
Lobbyists represent before government the interests of all sorts of clients.
No lobbyist has ever introduced a bill on the floor of either House of Congress. No lobbyist has ever voted a bill out of committee. No lobbyist has ever voted for a bill on the floor of either the House or the Senate.
Those things are done by Congressmen and Senators.
It is the role of lobbyists to make arguments for their causes. It is the job of legislators to decide. When bad decisions are made, the fault lies with those who cast the votes.
Unlike Senators Collins and Feinstein, many of us would object to both the bill they introduced in the Senate and the one that emerged from the House. Various interests can make those arguments with our representatives. When decisions are made, good or bad, credit or blame belongs to those representatives.
Those representatives should not be passing the buck.
posted by MCO at 8:43 PM
2 Comments:
I thought passing the buck was the American way.
This is just one more reminder that the only real way to keep our economy strong is not by raising taxes, but by keeping taxes low, fair and simple.
I've been looking for a way to take action and contact our legislators and sign petitions and found some good policy the U.S. Chamber of Commerce backs (here). I don't have a lot of money or time, but I figure this will help other people do good.
Post a Comment
<< Home