"Super" Congress?

[Sleeping in EQ]

Lobbyists seem to hate the deal, so it can't be all bad.

[il Padrino Ute]

Every time a piece legislation is passed in both houses where conflicting provisions exist, a Joint Committee is established to hash out the details. The bill, as modified, then goes back to both houses for a final vote without amendment. This has happened literally thousands of times since our nation was founded. Also, as camleish has pointed out, standing Joint Committees have existed for some time and we've yet to see democracy die as a result. Interestingly enough, Tea Party heroes Mike Lee and Jim DeMint are participants in the Joint Economic Committee.

Did you read the link that TKD provided? How do you address the quote that TKD provided in this post?

Less accountability is never a good thing.

[YOhio]

Did you read the link that TKD provided? How do you address the quote that TKD provided in this post?

Less accountability is never a good thing.

I read the link, but still don't see the big deal. How does this make a politician less accountable? Will the legislators who sit on the committee be exempt from reelection? Will voters be required not to consider the up or down vote when voting for their senator or representative? Can a Senator not filibuster? How does this deficit reduction committee differ from other Joint Committee's we've had in the past? Is there any evidence, other than pure speculation, that it's a vehicle both parties intend to use as a primary force to craft legislation in the future?

I'll answer these question for you.
1- It doesn't.
2- No.
3- No.
4- No.
5- It doesn't.
6- No.

The article is making something out of nothing.

[taekwondave]

I read the link, but still don't see the big deal. How does this make a politician less accountable? Will the legislators who sit on the committee be exempt from reelection? Will voters be required not to consider the up or down vote when voting for their senator or representative? Can a Senator not filibuster? How does this deficit reduction committee differ from other Joint Committee's we've had in the past? Is there any evidence, other than pure speculation, that it's a vehicle both parties intend to use as a primary force to craft legislation in the future?

I'll answer these question for you.
1- It doesn't.
2- No.
3- No.
4- No.
5- It doesn't.
6- No.

The article is making something out of nothing.

I think you bring up some good points. I'm not sure what I think about it yet, but you sound convincing.

I have been very... easily persuaded of dire consequence (if that makes any sense) in the past. The more I look at it the more I wonder if it isn't because of my religious, end of world, Jesus coming back, paradigm. You know what I mean? I've argued against the doctrine of the second coming before, but I wonder if I haven't manifested a bias towards it through the political armageddons I am always looking forward to. Haven't been people saying, "This is it. This is the nail in the coffin. This is the end. Batton down the hatches. Get your house in order. Santa Clause is coming to town" for like... oh, 2,000 years now? Don't they do it no matter WHAT their current legislators do?

I don't know. I don't like this whole "super" congress thing, but I'm starting to ask myself WHY I dislike it so much. I think it was the fear-mongering comment earlier that got me thinking about it.

Totally off topic. Sorry. Continue.

[happyone]

I kind of look at it as a BRAC for budget cuts, but with more accountablity for the people who sit on the commision.

[RobinFinderson]

Colbert did a nice piece on the 'super' congress:

[ame="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/393610/august-01-2011/the-word---with-great-power-comes-no-responsibility"]The Word - With Great Power Comes No Responsibility - The Colbert Report - 2011-01-08 - Video Clip | Comedy Central[/ame]

[taekwondave]

Is that your opinion too, Robin?

[U-Ute]

Doesn't matter what they do. Unless there are substantial changes to Medicare, Social Security, and rolling back the GWB tax cuts, we're simply rearranging deck chairs.

The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can all go back to watching NFL football.

[Pelado]

Colbert did a nice piece on the 'super' congress:

The Word - With Great Power Comes No Responsibility - The Colbert Report - 2011-01-08 - Video Clip | Comedy Central

He pretty much nailed it. The Congress is just passing the buck on making tough reforms that will lead to people losing re-election. They want to delegate the authority to a dozen lawmakers who will face the real fire. That way, the rest of Congress will be able to say "I would have preferred they make cuts to a different program, but it's a crisis and we had to act."