Anyone watching the Senate floor proceedings right now? It's getting interesting, very, very interesting.
Kent Conrad, Ranking Member of the Budget Committee, is trying to get a vote on an amendment providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers, of which his state of North Dakota has many.
Little Ricky didn't want to allow that, and Kent issued a flat out threat to the Republicans....some quotes over the jump
Background: Kent Conrad is trying to attach an amendment for funding for disaster relief to farmers to a military appropriations bill.
Senate Rule 16 enables any other senator to block this by issuing a point of order, which Little Ricky did, after Kent had forwarned him that it would not be taken well.
Kent's warning:
"I've been advised that the other side may intend to raise Rule 16 against my amendment. I would just ask them before they make that judgment...if were going to get treated this way...they should be prepared for me to play hardball, too...if others are going to give us short shrift...then I am prepared to play hardball, too.
Little Ricky stood up and issued his point of order.
Then Kent tried to speak, and Kay Hutchenson objected to his request for a suspension of the quorom call.
He asked a second time ans was able to speak.
Kent's pissed off response:
...this is how emergency disasters have been dealt with year after year after year...what I am seeking to do is get a vote...now they can deny the vote, at least tempoorarily, but if they think that is the end of the story they are wrong, we're going to be back. Look, if my colleagues are going to invoke Rule 16 on this measure...[and] prevent a vote, then things are going to get very tough around here. I know the rules of the Senate, and if people think they can just ramrod things and prevent farmers and ranchers in this country a vote on desparately needed disaster assistance, then this body is going to slow way down. So my colleagues can use their rights and I will use mine. Let there be no doubt about what the result will be. This place will have a hard time functioning...[I will] object to unanimous consent agreements..." Kay Hutchenson tries to table the amendment by unanimous consent..."I object"
Kent flat out telling them that this lame duck session os going to be really lame of they don't play ball. And there's not much happening right now, at least on the floor.
Kent Conrad may just be the harbinger of a new attitude by the party that will be in the majority in less than two months. And it's a wonderful thing to see!
To be continued...