Why isn't there some method where we as the constituants can force a change to how bills are voted on.

I absolutely hate the riders they attach to bills. I want to see a vote on a bill for it's merits alone. Would make it so much easier to judge a sen/rep by his voting record.

For example, the latest Defense bill was shot down. Not really for it's merits but for the b/s Anwar drilling bill that was riding it's coattails.

I hate this type of bs politics. .... ....

Fandros

Agreed.

Wasn't it Reagan that was railing against this crap, and threatening to start using line item veto? We see this from time to time in Minnesota, with the local anti-abortion organization getting riders stuck onto completely unrelated bills, causing uproars when good legislation cannot be enacted because of their games.

Gee, we are sorry your children lost their music/art classes, but we could not pass funding without changing our abortion laws.:rolleyes:

Line item veto was brought up and rejected during the Clinton era. Personally, I wouldn't want Bush to have the power.

While I wish the ANWR bill had passed, I really fucking wish they'd stop adding rider bills it does nothing but gum up the process and prevent things from passing that should and allow things that probably shouldn't to pass.

Who was it that added the ANWR rider on to the bill again?

OH! good lord how i wish we had a national referendum system in this country. even if we couldnt effect much actuall change we could send a clear message to the politicians wich way their farts are actually blowing.
Imagine a referendum winning 62% to 38% in favor of abolishing anything but single subject bills bieng brought out of commitee to a vote.
It might not hold up to court challenge (and believe me the bloated leach that is Washington would spend Billions fighting any and all referendums passed) but it would definately cut down on the amount of pork attached for awhile.

I'm not referring to Line Item veto. What I want is what velvet suggested. I want it to be impossible to add rider bills.

Fandros

to use language even the CS kiddies would understand...


rider r teh suxxor

Agreed.

I'm getting pretty tired of these, too. I'd love to see them go away, but I'm not sure how effectively it could be legislated (especially considering who needs to vote on that sort of stuff...).

On a seperate note, it would entertain me to see an anti-rider bill with riders on it.

The entire system needs an overhaul. I'd vote a President who had the balls to do that into office for life. Rider bills have killed more bills than the Plague.