Smart Power!
Man, it is so nice that the Professionals and Adults are in charge and keeping that Lame Duck Express rolling along
A food safety bill that has burned up precious days of the Senate’s lame-duck session appears headed back to the chamber because Democrats violated a constitutional provision requiring that tax provisions originate in the House.
By pre-empting the House’s tax-writing authority, Senate Democrats appear to have touched off a power struggle with members of their own party in the House.
…The debacle could prove to be a major embarrassment for Senate Democrats, who sought Tuesday to make the relatively unknown bill a major political issue by sending out numerous news releases trumpeting its passage.
Section 107 of the bill includes a set of fees that are classified as revenue raisers, which are technically taxes under the Constitution.
…This is not the first time that Reid has run afoul of the Constitution’s tax origination provisions. His efforts to pass a tourism promotion bill that was key to his re-election hopes was temporarily stymied earlier this year because the Senate passed a version with revenue raisers similar to those in the food safety bill.
The Constitution…gosh, it causes the Democratic Leadership just all sorts of problems, now doesn’t it?
Good, now get rid of this damned Bill that only increases government meddling, paperwork and employment.
Nanny State, Politics | Mr. Bingley | 
December 1, 2010 7:39 am
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My understanding is that it’s also going to wind up screwing over a lot of the “eat local” activists, because it may put small “local” producers out of business.
If I weren’t otherwise upset about the bill, I’d sit back, pop some (doubtless megafarmed) popcorn, and watch the fireworks…
Senate Democrats appear to have touched off a power struggle…
It’s after 8 in the morning here, but I still read that line as “have douched off a power struggle”.
I think I was right the first time.