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DEL.ICIO.USOn the U.S. Senate watch: Attacks on Saxby and his ag bill stand, and middle school teacher jumps in
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss had been walking a thin, middle line with the farm bill that stalled last week.
Early this month, the Republican announced he was “deeply disappointed” with a threat from President Bush to veto the bill, which would authorize the spending of $288 billion over five years.
“Our committee worked for months to craft a strong bipartisan farm bill while remaining fiscally responsible,” said Chambliss, who was once chairman of ag committee and remains the ranking Republican.
Bush was joining critics on the left — as well as the right — who have called for a sharp decrease in crop subsidies. Chambliss has been a resolute defender.
But on Friday, Chambliss was among those who helped prevent a vote on the bill, after his Republican colleagues had loaded it with more than 275 amendments that Senate Majority Harry Reid didn’t want to tackle — like a ban on drivers licenses for illegal immigrants.
[A spokeswoman for Chambliss points out that 150 of the amendments were offered by Democrats, but somehow we think the topics were more problematic than the number.]
You could tell that Chambliss was a bit nervous about being caught in a crossfire. He put out a press release as quickly as possible, and blamed Democrats.
“Let it be known that the Majority Leader shut down the farm bill debate last week, by offering amendments so that no one else can, well before the process even started. I have urged the other side to work with us to come up with a reasonable compromise - the Democrats are choosing which amendments will be offered to this bill by using parliamentary practices, which is simply not agreeable to my Republican colleagues and me,” Chambliss said.
So far, the only Democrat to take Chambliss on over his vote is Josh Lanier of Statesboro — a former staffer for U.S. Sen. Herman Talmadge, who himself was a chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Said Lanier: “When leadership was needed, he ducked and sided with those who want to gut the bill with non-farm amendments and voted to leave the bill, and Georgia farmers, in limbo.”
Lanier had been one of three Democrats who have announced against Chambliss, or who have formed exploratory committees.
A fourth declared herself over the weekend. Maggie Martinez is a former state representative from Puerto Rico. She’s now a teacher at Memorial Middle School in Rockdale County, according to the Clayton Daily News.
Comments
By Tacky
November 19, 2007 6:21 PM | Link to this
Maybe you guys can find out how our senators Saxby and Chambliss stand on H.R.4088 introduced by N.C. Rep. Heath Shuler? It seems the best out there for illegal immigration control.
By Churchill
November 19, 2007 10:12 PM | Link to this
Tacky, what the heck are you talking about. Name the 2 senators from GA. This is a quick test. I know that you think that Sen. Saxby. and Sen. Chambliss is the right answer, but a test none the less.
By Pilot
November 20, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
Saxby Chambliss has had his time in office and needs to be replaced as do all members of congress who will have served six years in congress; house or senate. Congress has been totally ineffective for many years now and we need change on both sides of the aisle.
By Pilot
November 20, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
Saxby Chambliss has had his time in office and needs to be replaced as do all members of congress who will have served six years in congress; house or senate. Congress has been totally ineffective for many years now and we need change on both sides of the aisle.
By GeorgiaValues
November 20, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
Pilot 2 Post is way off the mark, we need Saxby back in Washington fighting for Georgia Values!
He is an effective leader who gets things done for this state and this country.
I stand with Saxby.
By Support the Troops
November 20, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
Excuse me, but when exactly did slandering Veterans and voting against the well-being of our troops begin to constitute “Georgia values?” Saxby = Pork. Does the man have any values that are not related to lining his OWN pockets? If so, please elaborate.
By PauldingVet
November 20, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this
Saxby introduced and helped pass the Wounded Warrior Act Legislation which went a long way to ensure adequate and quality care for our troops and veterans. It was one the best bills Congress has ever passed.
Saxby has stood strong with our troops throughout the War, and criticized the anti-U.S. Military comments coming from the Democrats.
Saxby is the Veterans’ best friend in the Senate.
By Will Jones
November 20, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this
Chambliss is a slanderous draft-dodger “buddy” to the draft-dodging, Closet-Queen-in-Chief cheated into the White House by the Roman Catholics on the Supreme Court…who went on to commit 9-11. He is no man and is complicit with Bush in the false war in Afghanistan and Iraq which has already cost us nearly 4,000 of their betters, as well as the blood of hundreds of thousands of other innocents.
No Honorable Veteran, obedient to The Oath, condones treason or traitors. Bush is a traitor and a hypocritical homosexual. Chambliss endorses Bush. Do the “math.” Birds of feather.
By Support the Troops
November 20, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this
A person of integrity with viable qualifications doesn’t need to pay millions to an advertising firm to take cheap shots at an honorable veteran who exemplifies the real values of Georgia: hard work, fairness, service, and a better future for the citizens of this country. Chambliss is an opportunist for whom no dirty trick is too low. If you’re a veteran and you voted for Chambliss after he paid to put Bin Laden’s face next to Max Cleland’s face on television, you have betrayed your own. Own it.
By Will Jones
November 20, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this
Chambliss, Bush, Larry Craig, Mark Foley, Ted Haggard, Jeff Gannon: QED