From Deseret News archives:
Breakdown in relations hinders Senate effectiveness
Lawmakers of both parties say courtesy has hit a low ebb
"The leadership is setting a dictatorial tone," Specter, R-Pa., said Thursday, still furious over his treatment the day before. "Senators didn't get here to be pushed around."
It may seem small-minded to bicker over a few words at the end of a 24-hour debate. But the clash between the two veteran senators is evidence of a larger breakdown in relations in the Senate, a deterioration in cooperation that is hobbling the Senate's ability to get things done. The situation is not likely to improve with a presidential election on the horizon.
As the cots were rolled away and lawmakers left for a decent night's rest after the around-the-clock debate that ended like others this year in stalemate, lawmakers of both parties said they had rarely seen the tone so poisonous and the willingness to work together on the floor at such a low ebb.
It is hardly startling that members of the two parties do not see eye to eye. And the spirit of bipartisanship in the Senate always rises and falls depending on the subject and the election calendar. But seven months into the new Democratic regime, the environment seems unusually hostile. Occasionally, senators do, too, as exhibited in a Sunday television exchange between Sens. Jim Webb, D-Va., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., that looked for a moment as if it might turn physical as the two men argued about the war in Iraq.
Hard feelings have consequences. Without agreements between the leaders of the opposing parties, the Senate has been plunged into a procedural knife fight, with Democrats forced to scramble to find 60 votes not just on contentious issues like an Iraq withdrawal plan, but on once-routine matters like motions to proceed to a spending bill. The feuding has spilled into subjects that would seem to hold the potential for common ground, like antiterror legislation and lobbying reform, and will doubtless tie up spending bills, health care measures and others to come.
Comments
- Heroine names: Worthy women, icons 2:44 p.m.
- Open letter to son on 16th birthday 2:41 p.m.
- Bamboo not an instant nightmare 2:40 p.m.
- Yardsmart: Delectable winter greens 2:37 p.m.
- Flowers in a beautiful setting 2:35 p.m.
- Dealing with pet ear injuries 2:34 p.m.
- Smooth talk wrinkles mall walk 2:32 p.m.
- School treasures discovered in attic 2:26 p.m.
- BYU leads UNM 17-7 at half 1:50 p.m.
- Snowstorm hits Utah; 1 dead 1:11 p.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- D-Will home for daughter
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Man killed during 3rd I-15 crash
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Born of water and the spirit
- Williams leaves, won't play tonight
- Woods Cross refinery to shut down
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
352 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
164 - Will state consider gay rights law?
146 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
118 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Celtics crush Jazz
104 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
104
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
So is D-will going to move to Los Angeles?
Well, they can't finish the trial, because Mitchell keeps acting crazy, so he...
I would love to see more pictures of this wonderful old hotel in its prime....
Who is this Joe Smith guy ??? I never seen his name in the Holy Bible...The...
some more artifacts...how sweet..now watch out for hanti-virus!
Mexicans are not coming here because there are no jobs for them. The border...
Frogs may taste like chicking, but horned frogs don't. Horned frogs are...
BYU is not the good
I have always found it interesting...that so many who profess to be followers...
Al Gore is laughing all the way to the bank!


You can be the first to comment on this story.