Allen Protects Paycheck with Rubber Stamp
Friday, February 10, 2006
In another "Profiles In Courage" moment, George Allen suggests that Congressional paychecks be withheld if congress fails to pass approrpiations bills by the start of the new fiscal year. According to Allen, it is "absurd" that "full-time legislators can't get their job done on-time by October 1 -- then several months later -- all kinds of unknown, unchecked spending occurs." Allen commented that his pay check penalty "provides powerful incentives for senators and congressmen to perform their jobs on time, with discipline."
The funny thing that Allen fails to remind voters of is that he voted in favor of every single appropriations bill last year and the most recent "omnibus" appropriations bill in November 2004.
Of course, Allen's announcement before the CPAC convention has nothing to do with the recent announcement of James Webb seeking the Democratic nomination to unseat the fine Senator.
Roll Call reported that "one GOP strategist aligned with the Allen campaign acknowledged that the Senator would have to spend more on his re-election than once anticipated but still maintained that the outcome would be the same."
“They found themselves two people who, yes, will force George Allen to spend more money on a campaign in Virginia instead of anywhere else, whether that’s helping other candidates or on something in the future,” the source said.
The Hotline points out that "because Allen can't travel too often, he is more likely to attempt attention-grabbing gambits like this one, hoping to generate buzz among conservatives and party donors."
I don't think it is the hat or the horse that causes folks to think he is a cowboy as much as it is the incessant smell of manure!
On a side note, I admire Allen's courage in finally acknowledging that things are so bad economically that even US Senators live paycheck to paycheck.
posted by Libertas @ 1:12 AM,
2 Comments:
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At 9:33 PM,
Mike said...
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Nice blog Libertas. How long till the media starts calling the VA Sen race 'Top Tier'?
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At 5:18 PM,
Josh Chernila said...
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I'm still looking forward to the day that the media will start calling our 40% approval rated president "embattled".