Thursday, July 28, 2005

CAFTA passed

Just barely: 217-215 in the House.

I'm mainly happy for more free trade, but I couldn't help but be distracted by this paragraph in the Washington Post article reminding me how laws are made:
The last-minute negotiations for Republican votes resembled the wheeling and dealing on a car lot. Republicans who were opposed or undecided were courted during hurried meetings in Capitol hallways, on the House floor and at the White House. GOP leaders told their rank and file that if they wanted anything, now was the time to ask, lawmakers said, and members took advantage of the opportunity by requesting such things as fundraising appearances by Cheney and the restoration of money the White House has tried to cut from agriculture programs. Lawmakers also said many of the favors bestowed in exchange for votes will be tucked into the huge energy and highway bills that Congress is scheduled to pass this week before leaving for the August recess.
Don't you just love huge energy and highway bills?

1 Comments:

Blogger Vader said...

If there's any validity to public choice th eory, then logrolling is a reality that will never go away.

7/28/2005 9:54 AM  

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