Tying the Hands of the New Congress
Ernest Istook /
The lame duck Congress wants to tie the hands of the new Congress, limiting the ability to change government as the voters insisted in November. And just like other legislation such as Obamacare, this plan is being drafted in secret, not in the open.
Circulating on Capitol Hill is a draft measure—written by the Senate Democratic majority in backrooms—to fund all the federal government not only through fiscal year (FY) 2011 but also partially into FY 2012. This 183-page plan would:
- Handcuff the ability of newly elected Representatives and Senators to de-fund Obamacare,
- Restrict the new Congress’s leverage to rescind unused “stimulus” and TARP spending,
- Have the outgoing Congress dictate spending for more than the usual one year, and
- Bypass the normal appropriations process of public committee votes, floor debates, and the ability to offer amendments on the floor of the House and Senate.