Who's the Masked Senator?

SoFlaJDM · 08-28-2006, 04:01 PM

Blogosphere Unites in Pursuit of Masked Senator
By Paul Kiel - August 28, 2006, 1:04 PM

Who's trying to stop the government from telling its citizens where their tax dollars are being spent? Help find out.

Just before the August recess, the Senate was set to vote on a bill co-sponsored by Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) that would create a public, searchable database of all federal grants and contracts. Envisioned as a Google-like website, it would provide free, immediate access the information, which can be alarmingly difficult to obtain.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously passed the measure July 27th, and S.2590 seemed to be speeding on its way to full Senate passage when, in the dark of night, an unknown Senator placed a "secret hold" on the bill. According to Senate rules, the bill will never come to a vote as long as the hold continues.

more here: TPMmuckraker August 28, 2006 01:04 PM

if the senator becomes exposed, he/she could be in a world of trouble. also makes you wonder why they would be against it.

Phantom · 08-28-2006, 04:04 PM

I'm guessing its held up for national (err job) security reasons

beez · 08-28-2006, 04:09 PM

Maybe it's that douchebag from Alaska.

Scrum · 08-28-2006, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by beez

Maybe it's that douchebag from Alaska.

Oh please let it be Stevens

SoFlaJDM · 08-28-2006, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Oh please let it be Stevens

motivez · 08-28-2006, 05:20 PM

God I hope they figure out who it is.. Go Go Gadget Blogosphere!

SoFlaJDM · 08-28-2006, 05:22 PM

i just called bill nelson's (D-FL) office... they said he's go on record as a big "no" to placing the hold

SoFlaJDM · 08-28-2006, 05:24 PM

everyone call their senators

motivez · 08-28-2006, 05:24 PM

I don't think anyone is going to admit to it.

Why the fuck is there a "secret hold" anyway? What happened to transparency in government?

SoFlaJDM · 08-28-2006, 05:25 PM

i'm asking them if they would go on record saying they didn't

SoFlaJDM · 08-28-2006, 05:36 PM

Mel Martinez's office is giving me the "we'll call you back"

motivez · 08-28-2006, 05:41 PM

Call back and say, "So how many points do you think Mr. Martinez will drop in the polls when it's posted on a heavily read blog that he's refusing to issue a flat denial on the record that he's the one who put the secret hold on this piece of transparency in government legislation?"

SoFlaJDM · 08-28-2006, 05:58 PM

According to a couple of different blog sites as of right now...

According to Porkbusters:

1. Shelby, Richard C.- (R - AL)
2. Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)
3. McCain, John- (R - AZ)
4. Feinstein, Dianne- (D - CA)
5. Boxer, Barbara- (D - CA)
6. Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
7. Durbin, Richard- (D - IL)
8. Obama, Barack- (D - IL)
9. Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)
10. Landrieu, Mary L.- (D - LA)
11. Vitter, David- (R - LA)
12. Mikulski, Barbara A.- (D - MD)
13. Ensign, John - (R - NV)
14. Clinton, Hillary Rodham - (D - NY)
15. DeWine, Mike- (R - OH)
16. Voinovich, George V.- (R - OH)
17. Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)
18. Coburn, Tom- (R - OK)
19. Wyden, Ron- (D - OR)
20. Santorum, Rick- (R - PA)
21. Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
22. DeMint, Jim- (R - SC)
23. Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
24. Allen, George- (R - VA)
25. Murray, Patty- (D - WA)
26. Cantwell, Maria- (D - WA)
27. Thomas, Craig- (R - WY)

According to GOP Progress:

28. Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
29. Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)
30. Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
31. Snowe, Olympia J.- (R - ME)
32. Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
33. Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)

According to TPMm Readers:

34. Sarbanes, Paul S.- (D - MD)
35. Burr, Richard- (R - NC)
36. Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
37. Hutchison, Kay Bailey- (R - TX)
38. Warner, John- (R - VA)
39. Kerry, John F.- (D - MA)
40. Feingold, Russell D.- (D - WI)
41. Isakson, Johnny- (R - GA)
42. Pryor, Mark L.- (D - AR)
43. Lincoln, Blanche L.- (D - AR)
44. Brownback, Sam- (R - KS)
45. Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D - NJ)
46. Menendez, Robert- (D - NJ)
47. Salazar, Ken- (D - CO)
48. Bingaman, Jeff- (D - NM)
49. Chafee, Lincoln- (R - RI)
50. Nelson, Bill- (D - FL)
51. Dodd, Christopher J.- (D - CT)
52. Lieberman, Joseph I.- (D - CT)*
53. Frist, William H.- (R - TN)*
54. Burns, Conrad- (R - MT)
55. Biden, Joseph R., Jr.- (D - DE)
56. Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
57. Nelson, E. Benjamin- (D - NE)
58. McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)*
59. Inouye, Daniel K.- (D - HI)
60. Kohl, Herb- (D - WI)
61. Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)
62. Schumer, Chuck - (D - NY)
63. Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
64. Lugar, Richard G.- (R - IN)
65. Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
66. Grassley, Chuck- (R - IA)
67. Akaka, Daniel K.- (D - HI)
68. Dayton, Mark- (D - MN)
69. Lott, Trent- (R - MS)
70. Thune, John- (R - SD)*
71. Jeffords, James M.- (I - VT)
72. Martinez, Mel- (R - FL)
73. Reed, Jack- (D - RI)
74. Specter, Arlen- (R - PA)
75. Kyl, Jon- (R - AZ)
76. Johnson, Tim- (D - SD)
77. Bayh, Evan- (D - IN)*
78. Stabenow, Debbie- (D - MI)
79. Levin, Carl- (D - MI)
80. Domenici, Pete V.- (R - NM)
81. Kennedy, Edward M.- (D - MA)
82. Leahy, Patrick J.- (D - VT)
83. Dorgan, Byron L.- (D - ND)
84. Bunning, Jim- (R - KY)
85. Conrad, Kent- (D - ND)
86. Harkin, Tom- (D - IA)
87. Talent, James M.- (R - MO)
88. Murkowski, Lisa- (R - AK)
89. Baucus, Max- (D - MT)
90. Rockefeller, John D., IV- (D - WV)
91. Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)*
92. Reid, Harry- (D - NV)*
93. Carper, Thomas R.- (D - DE)*
94. Bond, Christopher S.- (R - MO)
95. Sarbanes, Paul S.- (D - MD)

Senators Unknown or Who Refuse Answer:

Bennett, Robert F.- (R - UT)
Byrd, Robert C.- (D - WV)
Crapo, Mike- (R - ID)
Gregg, Judd- (R - NH)
Hatch, Orrin G.- (R - UT)
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK) We've got a winner

* indicates a co sponsor

beez · 08-28-2006, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by SoFlaJDM

Senators Unknown or Who Refuse Answer:
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)

SoFlaJDM · 08-28-2006, 07:11 PM

updated

motivez · 08-28-2006, 07:52 PM

I'm not sure what each of those sections on your list means?

The other lists are people who HAVE answered?

SoFlaJDM · 08-28-2006, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I'm not sure what each of those sections on your list means?

The other lists are people who HAVE answered?

it's just the list that has been compiled by tpm to keep track of the senators that have said whether or not they have blocked the bill or not. it's split up to show who spoke with who to find out their stance

kinggovernor · 08-28-2006, 09:24 PM

what the fuck

SoFlaJDM · 08-28-2006, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

what the fuck

can't find a way to defend this?

kinggovernor · 08-29-2006, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by SoFlaJDM

can't find a way to defend this?

Yea I defend the senate all the time