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Forum Post: from alan grayson

Posted 11 years ago on May 22, 2013, 7:36 p.m. EST by bensdad (8977)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

This week, House Republicans are putting forward a bill called the "Northern Route Approval Act." This bill overrides the President's authority to make decisions on the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Whatever you think about the Keystone Pipeline, this bill is blatantly unconstitutional. The Constitution provides for a legislative branch, which creates legislation -- laws of general application. It also provides for an executive branch, which executes the laws. This is known as the separation of powers. The bill that the Republicans are putting forward is a clear violation of this principle.

The bill does one more thing: it bestows special favors on a foreign oil company, TransCanada. It lets the corporation build the Keystone XL pipeline without going through normal government approval processes, and even gives TransCanada a free right-of-way worth millions of dollars. House Republicans have said they want to get rid of Congressional earmarks. Yet here they are, bestowing an earmark anyway.

I challenged the Republicans on these points. I made two arguments, and put forward what is known as a "privileged resolution" outlining them. One, the House cannot vote on a bill that is unconstitutional. And two, under the House Rules that the Republicans insisted on, the House cannot vote on a bill that is a clear earmark. Contrary to the House Rules, the Chairman ruled this privileged resolution "out of order."

I'm no longer going to let the Republicans get away with claiming that they care about the Constitution when they trample all over it. And if they are going to cry about earmarks, they are going to have to justify why they want to bestow a special earmark on a foreign oil company.

17 Comments

17 Comments


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[-] 2 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 11 years ago

http://www.congressmanwithguts.com/

https://www.facebook.com/alangrayson

Wouldn't it be nice to see a Dem with balls kick the Cons in their dirty lying teeth!?

[-] 2 points by OTP (-203) from Tampa, FL 11 years ago

I dont want to hear shit from Democrats or Republicans about anything constitutional. They use it as toilet paper and thats about it.

[-] 0 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 11 years ago

I don't want to hear shit from your sidewalk chalking, bus stop boxer ass about anything, yet there you yack!!

[-] 0 points by quantumystic (1710) from Memphis, TN 11 years ago

the funny/sad thing is grayson is not really all that progressive based on his voting record and political positions. and that is what passes for a liberal lion today. pretty weak.

[-] -1 points by mantis1 (28) 11 years ago

The senate and the president can easily stop it. What's your point?

[-] 2 points by bensdad (8977) 11 years ago

my point is that too many people vote for the teapublicans
information is power

did you know that the teapublicans in the house passed a law that stated that it would become a law if the Senate and the President did NOT pass it

[-] -2 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 11 years ago

Biden/Hillary-Grayson 2016!!

[-] 1 points by bensdad (8977) 11 years ago

I love all three, but I think Grayson is a bit too rough for the average voter How about Warren as VP

[-] 2 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 11 years ago

Definitely kinder and gentler.

Clinton-Warren would be a nice thing, but can you hear the endless "Feminazi" slime coming from Cons and their RW hatemongers and echo-chambers?

Grayson hits back... hard! A very welcome change after our Jackie Robinson POTUS experience.

http://www.congressmanwithguts.com/

[-] 0 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 11 years ago

What's going on with the site, creep?

[-] 1 points by OTP (-203) from Tampa, FL 11 years ago

Who knows. Keep posting political endorsements of establishment war criminals. Its what Occupy is all about.

[-] 0 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 11 years ago

You are a human cockroach. Go chalk some sidewalk.

[-] 0 points by OTP (-203) from Tampa, FL 11 years ago

There we go. Let it out.

[-] 0 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 11 years ago

when you don't have anything you just don't get it do ya.

[-] 0 points by quantumystic (1710) from Memphis, TN 11 years ago

no you don't get it. you fucking hacks are selling us down a fucking river. wake the fuck up. there are only 2 establishment candidates worth even considering sanders/warren. the rest can kiss my ass.