Bolling infuriated at quid-pro-quo U.S. Senate deal
Former State Senator and current Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who presides over the state senate, ought to know a thing or two how the U.S. Senate is supposed to work – after all, it was modeled after Virginia’s.
And after all the backroom deals have been said and done regarding this so-called Health Care reform bill, the LG’s blood pressure is about critical.
He shot off an angry letter to Webb and Warner today demanding “no” votes on this bill, if for only the antics that got it to the floor for a vote:
“I am outraged by reports that surfaced this weekend regarding concessions that were made to Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson to secure his vote in support of this legislation,” stated Bolling. “If these reports are accurate, this type of quid pro quo is unacceptable, and you and your colleagues should object strongly to the practice, which I have no doubt the American people will find offensive as well.”
“If the Senate’s leadership is so desperate to obtain votes to secure the passage of this legislation that they would make these types of concessions to these Senators, I would ask that you demand that the same concessions be extended to Virginia, and for that matter, to every other state in the nation,” continued Bolling.
Category: Government
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I think the first thing AG Cuccinelli should do is take this to the courts on Constitutional grounds. Why should Nebraska have better access to federal services than any other states? If this type of thing is even a square deal then why don’t our two Democrat Senators get us the same deal. Oh yeah thats right they suck… I forgot.
Lee,
I agree, this Health Care disaster is completely unconstitutional. This is also blatant corruption at its worst. The Democrats, who took power promising clean government have been working tirelessly to engage in the very corruption that they at one time criticized.
What happened to the “Radical Centrist” Mark Warner? Where is he? He is hiding up in D.C., away from the people who elected him to get the job done. This is a travesty, and the people who promised us that they had the solutions, obviously do not. I am tired of the corruption and double dealings, I am tired of an Administration that does not live up to the ideals that it espoused, and I am tired of an American populous that does not take its rightful place in the ruling class.
I guess Bolling thinks that health care coverage for all, reform of private policies to stop cancellation if you get sick, denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions, and cost containment instead of the simple fee for service is a terrible idea. Fact is, most Virginians think it is a good idea and since the reform as currently proposed is paid for and reduces the deficit, maybe a few republicans should come into the 21st century and look around instead of simply yelling no all the time.
I’m shocked, shocked, that a deal was cut in a legislative body!
That never happens in Virginia.
Please spare us the mock outrage.
That’s a straw man, Mike and you know it. People arent necessarily against those things. But $300M for Landrieu in LA and millions more for puny Nebraska. God only knows what other goodies are in this bill. What did our worthless senators secure for VA? Nothing.
If this bill was worth a damn it could stand on its own without buy offs for disgruntled nervous nellie senators. I don’t recall the Civil Rights Act or Medicaid needing payoffs in those bills to pass.
This is pathetic legislation and everyone will know it.
Whether he votes for this crap legislation or not Nye is sunk by affiliating himself with this corruption.
Mark Warner in particular knows better than to vote for this. It just shows his radical centrist phrase is just a shill for his liberal instincts and beliefs.
legislative deals are one thing to pass, for instance a transportation bill or an appropriations bill. This bill will remodel 1/7 of the economy. Why not let the bill stand on its own mnerits? Why the special favors? Because the bill stinks and these goodies are cover for senators casting very bad votes not supported by their constituents.
It’s revolting. The Senate just energized the hell out of every conservative and fiscally conservative independent in America. Oh and the bill is despised by the liberals. Guess who will be voting in the next election? Bye bye Nye.
It is kind of funny that my republican friends are always telling me that elections have consequences. In this case, the will of the majority is being thwarted by solid opposition from every republican in the Senate, and the arcane rules adopted by that body in regard to cloture.
If this were a republican bill, say to reduce capital gains taxes to 6%, and the republicans had a majority, and the Democrats were able to invoke cloture to stop the bill, the howling herein would be intense.
I guess when it works the other way around it is OK. No wonder most Americans are sick of our elected representatives.
You gotta love this “graft is good” shtick from the Dems. It’s almost as if corruption and cronyism is good for the republic or something, the game being “get what you can” and to hell with ethics.
Gekko for DNC Chair?
Has anyone ever watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? At the time it was produced, Congress got angry because it portrayed many of them as crooks and frauds, well we are there again, and we are now looking for our own Jefferson Smith to take a stand, at any cost!
Govgirl, good point and good movie. On the other hand Barrett has a good point as well. IMHO both parties tend to overreach when they get full control, and divided government seems to work better.
Yes, again in this particular situation, in an alternate universe, the Senate republicans could have acknowledged that they did not have the votes to kill health reform, so they could have brought their particular expertise and opinion to make it the best it could be. If they had done so, they could have also prevented the special deals which happen when any senator or representative is the key to passage.
Lt. Gov Bolling is 100% correct. Nelson ACTUALLY put a price tag on life. Abortion was such an issue until 100 million came floating his way and then it was not a big deal anymore.
And, why not offer that money to every other Senator for each state. This bill is the grossest pieces of legislation ever forced on the American people. As to Mike’s point, yes, it is deficit neutral for the first ten years, after which, its cost is unsustainable. Lee makes a good point that if it passes states, as well as citizens will have a good case to make for its constitutionality. The central issue being mandated health insurance, which, as Sen. Ensign said today, could violate the idea of individual freedoms, expressed in our Bill of Rights.
That all being said, I applaud the LG on sending this letter, and hope that it serves some purpose in helping delay this legislation from being passed.
It’s funny that Bolling would get so upset about quid pro quo, when only weeks earlier he endorsed Jeff McWaters (after receiving $10,000 from him).
Just another rich, old, white guy buying and selling endorsements and spending their way to public office. (Scott Rigell anyone?)
Anthony, that’s how Republican politics work in Virginia Beach. Whoever is willing to spend spend spend on their campaign wins. The ironic part is that most of the guys who do this cling to “fiscal responsibility”. Every donation they make in the name of getting attention says the exact opposite(Not to mention donations to raise your taxes
Also I think McWaters gave WAY more than 10 grand to Bolling. Bolling is squealing about the same thing he’s done, just on a bigger scale.
It’s a shame, but politics here in Virginia Beach have become less and less about the people and more and more about quid pro quo deals and big bucks. I truly do not see it changing in the near future, but I won’t be too cynical on Christmas Eve.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30949.html
Look’s like I wasn’t the only one thinking this…