The following news story comes out of the
National Review. It is a brief accounting of what is going on behind the
scenes with regard to the so-called "Farm Bill." What is disturbing
to me, is the fact that absolutely no one (except this Review) sees
paradox, contraction, in calling this monstrosity a "farm
bill" when 7 out of every 9 dollars, in this bill, goes to support food
stamps. Now, if we need a food stamps bill, fine.
Call it what it is, but our GOP "conservative
leadership" is not doing that. Cantor and Company are playing games
with our sensibilities and the deceit stinks. I have included the full
but brief article from the National Review to make my point -- read
the article and see if you can find a hint as to the actual purpose of this
bill. Turns out that the conservative National Review is just as
complicit in this hypocrisy as is House leadership -- editor.
In a tense, closed-door meeting today at the Capitol, House majority leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) scolded several Republican committee chairmen for voting against the farm bill that failed to pass the House last month.
According to several sources, Cantor told the chairmen it was “unacceptable” for them to not vote together on final passage, especially since the leadership supported their amendments to the agricultural package.
Representative Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, the agricultural-committee chairman, expressed hope that the House would take up a farm bill again this summer, and Cantor reportedly agreed with him. The majority leader went on to tell the group that he doesn’t want another headache if he decides to do so.
Near the end, Cantor coolly reminded them that the leadership is much more likely to usher their bills to the floor if they stick with him on votes.
Sources say the chairmen were slightly surprised to hear such a warning from the mild-mannered Virginian, but with rank-and-file Republicans angry about the farm bill’s collapse, they know Cantor is facing pressure.
Out of the 62 Republican nays, seven of them were chairmen, including Jeb Hensarling (Texas), the financial-services-committee chairman, and Jeff Miller (Fla.), the veteran-affairs-committee chairman. Budget-committee chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin was another nay vote.
Rory Cooper, a Cantor aide, declined to confirm the session, telling NRO that Cantor’s office does not discuss member meetings.
According to several sources, Cantor told the chairmen it was “unacceptable” for them to not vote together on final passage, especially since the leadership supported their amendments to the agricultural package.
Representative Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, the agricultural-committee chairman, expressed hope that the House would take up a farm bill again this summer, and Cantor reportedly agreed with him. The majority leader went on to tell the group that he doesn’t want another headache if he decides to do so.
Near the end, Cantor coolly reminded them that the leadership is much more likely to usher their bills to the floor if they stick with him on votes.
Sources say the chairmen were slightly surprised to hear such a warning from the mild-mannered Virginian, but with rank-and-file Republicans angry about the farm bill’s collapse, they know Cantor is facing pressure.
Out of the 62 Republican nays, seven of them were chairmen, including Jeb Hensarling (Texas), the financial-services-committee chairman, and Jeff Miller (Fla.), the veteran-affairs-committee chairman. Budget-committee chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin was another nay vote.
Rory Cooper, a Cantor aide, declined to confirm the session, telling NRO that Cantor’s office does not discuss member meetings.
No comments:
Post a Comment