VA-Sen: Allen's amendment heist

Good for Allen. He just got busted doing something bad that doesn't involve his overt racism. That's a welcome change.

U.S. Senator George Allen today stole a Department of Defense appropriations amendment written, printed and prepared by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill), and then announced the amendment as his own, moments before Durbin was prepared to introduce the amendment on the Senate floor.

Apparently, coming up with his own amendments would be "hard work" and require "effort" and "thinking". Much better to steal stuff from the opposition.

--At 2:30 PM this afternoon the U.S. Senate began debate of the Department of Defense appropriations for FY 2007.
--Already on the docket was Senator Dick Durbin, who was scheduled to introduce an amendment to the bill providing $19 million in additional funding for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center program, which provides treatment care and research for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries.  That meant that Durbin's amendment had already been written, printed and prepared for introduction by Durbin.

--Yet, before Durbin could take the floor to introduce his amendment, George Allen entered the Senate Chamber and asked for permission to speak before Durbin.  When permission was granted ahead of Durbin, lo and behold, Allen introduced an amendment to the DOD appropriations bill that, how could this be, was identical in language to Durbin's bill with the exception of one word - the word "will" was changed in Allen's amendment and replaced with the word "shall."  Other than that, the amendments were identical - Durbin's amendment had been printed and set to be formally introduced, Allen's bill had not been written or been placed on the docket to be introduced.

When asked by Senators Stevens and Durbin if his amendment was the same as Senator Durbin's, George Allen agreed the bills were identical.

So, what are the odds that George Allen had the exact same idea as Durbin, the exact same dollar figure as Durbin, the exact same language as Durbin (save one word)?  And why did Allen seek special permission to speak before Durbin unless Allen was seeking to take credit for an amendment to which Durbin had already prepared and written?

Allen is morally bankrupt, and now we have further evidence that he is intellectually bankrupt. He is clearly bored with the Senate and wishes desperately he could be in Iowa and New Hampshire campaigning for president.

Webb will oblige. And once he kicks Allen's ass to the curb, the former junior senator from Virginia will have all the time in the world for Iowa and New Hampshire.

Update: Here are PDF scans of the amendments.

Race tracker wiki: VA-Sen