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Hoping to skate byBy Seymour Klierly With one week left before the August recess, the number of votes occurring in D.C. is uncharacteristically low. Typically, the congressional calendar this time of year is chalk-full of votes on spending measures. Faced with a long five weeks of town hall meetings and bar-b-que's with constituents, members like to be able to report back that they've passed appropriations bills that make significant investments in those communities. However, this year, members may just have to stick to talking about the good food and good sauce. As both chambers debate what to do about the rising price of gas, the back hall chatter has not been about what deals to strike to pass a bill. Instead, conversations between leaders in control of the schedule have been about how to get out of town without taking tough votes. For several months, Republicans have been hammering away at Democrats to increase domestic energy production as a response to high prices. Polling over the course of the summer shows that the majority of Americans agree with this approach. While some may disagree with drilling in ANWR, it's clear to all in D.C. that the American electorate supports, at least on some level, the theory that supply must be raised to meet a growing demand. Since some in the majority party find themselves on the opposite side of the majority of the public, everyone from committee chairmen to the majority leaders are working to justify postponing votes in fear of being on record. Last month, in the House Appropriations Committee, Chairman Obey canceled a meeting on the Department of Interior funding bill when he heard his committee's Republicans were going to offer an amendment that lifted a ban on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf. Just this week, Obey's counterpart in the Senate, Senator Byrd, canceled not just the Interior spending bill, but also the supplemental spending bill for the same fears. Is this responsible leadership? To run away from a tough vote? Unfortunately, this is the same leadership being utilized by the majority leaders, as well. Speaker Pelosi has been bringing her "energy" bills to the floor under the suspensions calendar. This procedure prohibits amendments and requires a two-thirds majority vote. Majority Leader Reid is employing this same strategy. He's proposed holding all energy amendments (if any are allowed) to a 60-vote threshold. What is interesting to me is not the limitation on amendments but the two-thirds vote threshold. Both leaders know that by requiring this higher vote tally, any legislative attempt to decrease gas prices will likely fail. If these votes fail, the majority leaders will immediately blame the minority, while at the same time avoid taking responsibility for establishing a system built to fail. There was a time when bills were allowed to pass with a simple majority. Instead, the leadership of this Congress is hoping to skate by the remainder of the summer without being held accountable. Maybe that's their message to all of us suffering from high prices: "Use skates." 7/28/08 Date: 7/23/08
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