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Tuesday, November 23, 2004

SENATE BREAKS WITH TRADITION:
READS LEGISLATION PRIOR TO VOTE
By Tweed

In a radical departure from tradition, US Senators took the unusual step of reading a bill before voting on it.

In so doing, Senators discovered that the House had passed a measure allowing staffers to review individual income tax returns. According to the Associated Press (November 22, 2004):

The intent, [Representative Istook (R-OK)] said, was to give House and Senate Appropriations chairmen and their aides access to IRS processing centers for oversight purposes and not to review individual returns. The provision says committee chairmen and their agents would have access to IRS "facilities and any tax returns or return information contained therein."

"Hell," said Rep. Istook upon learning of the text, "I didn't mean that."

Senators were stunned by what they read. "I just couldn't believe what was there," said Senator Sue Collins (R-Maine), "there are titles, subtitles, parts, subparts, sections, cross references - both internal and external - and the codification is all different from the USC - I just got so confused."


Senators Breaking With Tradition

In addition to the tax provision, Senators discovered provisions calling for the abolition of left-handed egg-beaters, funding for the National Commission on National Commissions, outlawing of all autombiles with the letter "m" in their name, funding for research into the viability of cruise control for baby strollers, creation of national pizza and beer day and a repeal of all sales taxes on any goods or services of more than $2.

Senator Hatch (R-Some Western State) expressed dismay at the Senate's change in tradition. "For years its been alright for us to proceed in this fashion. And not one shred of scientific evidence indicates that there is a reason for change. This is an example of the media distorting the facts."


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Not all Senators agreed with Hatch. "Sometimes change is good," said Lincoln Chafee (R-Rhode Island), "sometimes change is the only option really left."

It is not yet clear whether the Senate's radical departure from tradition will be followed in the House.





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