139 Groups Sign Letter Demanding Policy Riders Be Stripped From Govt. Funding Bill

WASHINGTON -- A coalition of 139 groups have written a letter to the leadership in the Senate and the White House demanding that any continuing resolution to fund the government and prevent a shutdown be stripped of all unrelated amendments, or “policy riders.”

The letter -- signed by, among others, prominent organizations from the progressive, labor, health, and environmental advocacy worlds -- comes as Congressional leadership finds itself in a high-stakes, 11th hour attempt to forge consensus on a bill that would keep the government funded through the end of September.

The authors write:

The undersigned organizations, on behalf of our millions of members and supporters, write today to express our strong opposition to inclusion of any policy riders in legislation that will fund government operations for Fiscal Year 2011.

There have not been any hearings related to these extraordinarily far-reaching proposals. This back-door means of legislating does not allow for adequate debate about the merits of such sweeping policy changes, which deserve full deliberation by both chambers in the course of the normal legislative process.

The House of Representatives' Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1), which was voted on one month ago, included vast cuts and erected obstructions to critical public health, worker safety, consumer, civil rights, and environmental programs. We urge you to adopt a strict policy of rejecting all such provisions in subsequent 2011 spending bills, rather than negotiating one harmful rider against another.

While the number of groups that signed the letter is impressive, the likelihood remains that they will end the negotiating process disappointed. Members of both Democratic and Republican leadership (in both congressional chambers) have come to a tentative understanding to keep some riders in the final continuing resolution. The debate, instead, has shifted to which of the controversial provisions leadership can purge without risking needed -- predominantly Tea Party -- votes.

As it stands, lawmakers are likely to scrap the most controversial riders, such as those that would defund Planned Parenthood and restrict the amount of money used to implement health care reform. There has been some chatter that Democrats would stomach an amendment that would strip the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate power plants, but the White House put out a statement on Thursday saying they would oppose such a move.

Among the most prominent signatories to the letter are labor union SEIU, civil liberties defender ACLU, and the National Organization of Women.

READ THE LETTER HERE:

riderdoc

Comments

[RvrsMtns]

04:01 PM on 04/08/2011

Messy Business...most of the riders are removing laws that became laws as...riders or, other tricks both Republicans and Democrats.

When you look at the actual riders and then ask...how did these become law. ie; local $ for DC residents to get abortion (skirting the no fed $ for abortion) and the Mexico $ for abortion and the environmental riders...most, if not all these, became law in a not so straight up manner.

It's messy business and most American are disgusted by riders...but!, let's not delude ouselves into believing this is bad Republicans...it's bad politics.

[Fina Biscotti]

09:51 AM on 04/02/2011

Anything that SEIU signs - is just another Con Game......

*********

But I am happy that SEIU got hit with a CIVIL RICO cause of action - by Sodexo USA.

[Fina Biscotti]

09:25 AM on 04/02/2011

"new beginnings" = very insightful commentary! Thank you for sharing.

[gaydood]

08:32 PM on 04/01/2011

joebiteme 13 minutes ago (8:15 PM)

45 Fans
Become a fan

i'd listen harder if dem's were willing to pay taxes rather than living off the fruits of others labor
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
lol

[RadCenter]

11:27 AM on 04/04/2011

I think you really believe this. How sad.

[Joe Friday]

08:04 PM on 04/01/2011

Only a few "policy riders" need to remain; defund Planned Parenthood, strip $105 billion for ObamaCare start-up and require Nancy to pay back her unnecessary travel expenses!

[jkkFL]

08:21 PM on 04/01/2011

Defund boehners, office, liquor, golf, wimmin, and tanning perks. That'll do it- with spares.

[Joe Friday]

08:40 PM on 04/01/2011

Jack .... "A" for creativity, "F" for being a Liberal!

[Big Boo]

08:29 PM on 04/01/2011

friday is dead.

[Joe Friday]

08:41 PM on 04/01/2011

bigboob .... It's Liberalism is dying!! Gee, you are slow!

[Dan Dolan]

07:57 PM on 04/01/2011

If they factor in their tea party constituents, then NOTHING will get done period. The republicans are leaving themselves wide open.........veeeerrrrrrrrrrryyyyy iiinnnntttteeeerrrreeeesssttttiiinnnggg. lol Duh

[joebaggadonuts]

07:42 PM on 04/01/2011

By their fruits you shall know them. And when the R's and their fellow travelers shut down the US government, their fruit shall have ripened. And it shall stink. And they shall be branded with the stink for two election cycles. Amen.

[throwcautiontothewind]

08:47 PM on 04/01/2011

Alleluia!

[Fina Biscotti]

09:32 AM on 04/02/2011

@joebaggadonuts:

"By their fruits you shall know them. And when the R's and their fellow travelers shut down the US government­, their fruit shall have ripened. And it shall stink. And they shall be branded with the stink for two election cycles. Amen. "

***********

You mean - like the Ds received a good vote-whipping in the 2010 midterms?

Rs won the Majority in the House - and over 722 seats in State Governments - across the USA.

[Hoosierbrad]

07:39 PM on 04/01/2011

I love the sentiment, but do these groups actually think the Republican congressmen and women actually give a shite? They will ignore these groups, unless the Koch brothers are among them (they aren't).

[biddan1000]

07:27 PM on 04/01/2011

All the Republicans should do is force the funding of the necessary items and not fund the other items. They should also only allow Federal Workers that are essential personal to report for work to keep the government running, like what happens in a snow storm. If this congress cannot cut 300-400 billion of a 3.6 trillion dollar budget there is definitely something wrong.

[democratsaint]

07:37 PM on 04/01/2011

300-400 b is pretty easy, get rid of tax cuts for rich,end corporate welfare.end the wars in iraq and afghan.there ya go like 500b-600b and not a single thing cut or person laid off.

[biddan1000]

07:46 PM on 04/01/2011

I agree with the above, I would add get rid of the progressive tax system and put in the Fair Tax or Flat tax.

[CarolW2]

07:51 PM on 04/01/2011

Also agree. After completing our income tax again, I'm all for a flat tax. That way, everyone pays something.

[joebiteme]

06:02 PM on 04/01/2011

The repubicans are doing nothing more than restoring govt to where it was before the radicalization that the Dem's did over the past 4 years

[CBasilJr]

06:14 PM on 04/01/2011

You abuse and misstate the truth. The Republicans are trying to reverse bills which go all the way back to FDR's years, but conveniently ignore that fact to hide your lie.

Why don't you get a life and drink some of that "truth" tonic that Limbaugh pushes. Oh, wait, if Limbaugh pushes it then he must be lieing there, too.

Forget what I said in my previous paragraph.

[dennisrs]

07:18 PM on 04/01/2011

FDR's years? what would they be and are they any good now?

[joebiteme]

08:11 PM on 04/01/2011

FRD was opposed to publice unions soooo what now??

[Signe]

06:16 PM on 04/01/2011

What are you talking about! Brush up on your communication skills.

[Gotcharadio]

05:59 PM on 04/01/2011

What will it take for the American people to understand that this, all of this, this that is happening and the way in which it's occuring: IS BY DESIGN . . . each representative party has morphed into nothing more than a corrupt society, in plain sight. Why should they care, they still get their salaries no matter what. If the Dems in the Senate and the House lived down here where we are, in the real world, then Sen. Reid wouldn't be so fast to agree to $30-something in cuts. Remember, they're getting paid by fundraisers, the taxpayers who send donations, and by a not-to-shabby salary; and mostly by the CORPORATIONS. What are you getting. Wake-up America, your existence will depend on it.

[CBasilJr]

06:21 PM on 04/01/2011

Typical conservative comment. Lie to protect the guilty by pointing to the opposite side and saying they're doing the crime.

Goebbels used it frequently and we used to characterize it as being "The Big Lie."

Now, we just say, "Another Republican hypocritical lie."

[Neil Schneeberg]

06:37 PM on 04/01/2011

Where in his comment did you get that he was a conservative?

[democratsaint]

07:21 PM on 04/01/2011

yep thats why the right pushed so hard for the tax cuts for rich than said we need to cut spending by the amount of that tax cut. ie lets have the poor pay for the rich's tax cuts.

[SofaKing22]

05:46 PM on 04/01/2011

It's a shame that our government would even think about cutting funding social programs for the people of this great nation. At the same time handing over millions if not billions and trillions to some of the most profitable corporations in the world. There is no tax fairness in this country.

[joebiteme]

05:59 PM on 04/01/2011

so so true seeing as how 50% of the population pays no taxes and yet are able to eat at the trough. Time to demand that EVERY american pays taxes even the illegals

[gumby40]

06:05 PM on 04/01/2011

You talking about the Poor? 50% of the population, really? Back up your silly claim.

[Perdix]

06:44 PM on 04/01/2011

Everybody pays taxes. The very poor do not pay federal income tax, but they sure as hell pay taxes to FICA, state, local, gas, electric, phone, property, sales, etc, etc ,etc...

[LogicJack]

05:18 PM on 04/01/2011

Somehow after reading that list, I do not see any GOP quaking in thier boos, half of them never heard of and the other half are just mad because they are going off the government handout that supliments their organization. Sorry but cuts have to start somewhere. I say look, just pass the thing and we will see whats in it and how it works, by them maybe people will like it.

Not like we havn't heard that before.

[vgirl1]

05:43 PM on 04/01/2011

I thought the tearepubs were all for small government and minimal regulation, yet they continue to want to impose their policy and ideological positions on the rest of us in budget / spending bills.

Hypocrisy reins.

[LogicJack]

06:19 PM on 04/01/2011

Wouldn't know. I belong to no party or political organization and never have in my life. I merely point out the joke all this seems to me. I also want a more streamlined government that has programs that are actually efficient and fiscally responsible.

No-one will ever convince me that there are not a lot of free loading special interest in a lot of these organizations that the politicians on both sides are in bed with. It has been out of hand since the 60's and seem to continue every year.

[richj45]

05:53 PM on 04/01/2011

cuts aren't necessary, end wars and tax rebates.. the social programs are what makes the U.S. a great nation..

[joebiteme]

06:00 PM on 04/01/2011

80% of the budget is social programs paid for by just 50% of the population. Time to end the give aways

[LogicJack]

06:23 PM on 04/01/2011

Sorry really disagree with that. Social program run efficiently and fiscaly repronsible with a real focus on only those in dire need and a plan to remove them from the program in a timely manner are fine. However that has not been the case since the 60's.

It is time in my opinion to start scrapping all this and use some tough love, the working people cannot afford to support so many. The figures do not add up for the massive amount of entitlements out there. Awful lot of waste and scaming going on to the tune of trillions in all of these when added together. Thats according to every body that has every studied them from government, watch dogs to private and government agencies themselves. Have to start somewhere and I could careless who starts it or how small the strat is, just start.

[harveyr2]

05:18 PM on 04/01/2011

Simple, single subject bills will do a lot to drain the swap of Washington.

Nancy couldn't do it. What will it take to elect LEADERS who represent the people?

[Publius67]

05:24 PM on 04/01/2011

Public campaign financing (only) for a start. The very nature of getting to office virtually requires nowadays selling out for contributions.

[Judy Rauch]

05:41 PM on 04/01/2011

Yes thats true and they have all sold out very well and they think we are not aware of it and their stupid lies about its all very jobs give me a break is all about who will put money in their pockets. We have to damn or vote these guys out one at a time till they change these election rules. Politicians talk about Unions demands well they could give Unions some lessons.

[harveyr2]

05:47 PM on 04/01/2011

Not sure that I agree with the solution, but a fix is required.

Entities of every sort (PACs, corporations, unions, etc.) should not be allowed political speech. Let every candidate build his/her web site and take campaign contributions from those who want to give.