Senator Wyden: "The cause of open government took a beating this afternoon"
|
May 14
|
Posted in Media, Bipartisanship, Changing D.C., video. |
In the words of Senator Ron Wyden, late yesterday the cause of good, open government "took a beating" in the U.S. Senate. And Wyden, standing against undemocratic, obstructionist tactics, is vowing to continue the fight until change occurs.
Previously, we brought word of Senator Wyden's efforts to end the undemocratic practice of "secret holds" in the Senate, where individual, anonymous Senators can obstruct legislation or nominations. And we wrote about Wyden's amendment to the ongoing financial reform legislation that would forever end "secret holds."
But Senator Wyden's efforts were delayed yesterday by South Carolina Republican Senator Jim DeMint, who introduced a controversial, unrelated, and last-minute amendment to Wyden's proposal.
"I've been in this body a little over a decade," Senator Wyden said on the floor of the Senate. "And I can't recall another instance where the cause of open government took a beating - took a blindsiding - like it took this afternoon. I intend to come back to my post here again, and again, and again - until we abolish the secret hold, and until the American people see the government is being brought out of the shadows."
Read additional coverage of this story at BlueOregon, or watch the below coverage from CSPAN:
Posted on May 14, 2010 in Media, Bipartisanship, Changing D.C., video.
