Senator Hillary Clinton's attempt to restore public confidence in America's emergency response system has failed. The U.S. Senate defeated a proposal for an independent commission to investigate governmental failures in the response to Hurricane Katrina.
The vote split along party lines. Except, that is, for Louisiana Senator David Vitter, whose hometown is one of those devastated by the storm.
As a Louisianan, Vitter could not apparently bring himself to vote against the measure. As a partisan GOP Bush loyalist, however, he could not bring himself to vote for it. So, he split the difference and did not vote at all.
Good luck explaining this one, senator. 2010 might seem like a long way away, but it isn't. Louisiana will not forget.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Senate kills independent "Katrina" commission
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I wouldn't be too quick in saying they killed an independent commission based on this. The amendment was added to an act making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and related agencies.
Senator Chafee (R-RI) referred to it as a "rider" and against Senate rules. Such riders have been used in the past to defeat appropriations bills. He then said legislation such as that should go through proper procedures. Also he stated that him along with other senators in the Senate Homeland Security Committee have already started an investigation.
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