Prometheus 6

Quotes of note:

The Senate minority leader, Tom Daschle of South Dakota, explained the rationale.

"Without the opportunity for Democrats to participate, Republicans are going to be making very partisan decisions about the level of commitment to highways over the next several years," Mr. Daschle said. "That's wrong."

That's right.

Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, said: "Historically in the Senate, when we passed a bill, we automatically went to conference. That has changed."

Now, Mr. Santorum said, Republicans have to secure unanimous consent, "or we do not get to conference."

Poor baby. At least you have more time to dream up inventive sex-with-animals scenarios. You seem to like doing that…

Bottom line: if Republicans can use parliamentary procedure to exclude Democrats, then Democrats can use parliamentary procedure to defend their interests. You don't like it? There's a simple solution.

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Feeling Left Out on Major Bills, Democrats Stall Others
By CARL HULSE and ROBERT PEAR

Published: May 3, 2004

WASHINGTON, May 2 — Senate Democrats, shut out of Congressional negotiations on Medicare and other important bills last year, are blocking House-Senate negotiations on other bills unless they are guaranteed a voice in writing the final legislation.

The tactic has infuriated Republicans and contributed to election-year paralysis as the House and Senate struggle to work out compromises needed to make law. The conflict intensified late last week and almost caused a partial shutdown of the Transportation Department.