Tortured Legislation
In recent sessions, lawmakers have debated resolutions supporting President Bush's tax cuts, the war in Iraq and limiting abortions.
But a Democratic resolution condemning the government's use of torture in the war on terrorism -- now that crosses the line, according to Provo Republican Sen. Curt Bramble.
In a heated exchange in the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday, Bramble called the resolution, sponsored by Salt Lake City Democratic Sen. Scott McCoy, an "anti-Bush bill."
"I think it is a way to slap the president," Bramble complained. He called it "bullshit" and a "crass partisan political move."
And it is a move he plans to crush.
With the support of the other Republicans in the committee, Bramble moved the bill to the Revenue and Taxation Committee, which he leads.
SJR5 is now in Bramble's control and will most likely die there.
But Democratic Sen. Gene Davis, who originally pushed for a public hearing on the torture resolution, confronted Bramble. How could it be partisan, he reasoned, if Republican Sen. John McCain from Arizona sponsored the original anti-torture amendment in the U.S. Congress.
That amendment received the support of 90 out of 100 senators. The Bush administration fought against McCain's amendment, but ultimately caved.
McCoy said he filed the resolution because "It is important for us as a people to stand up and stand together to oppose a practice that is so offensive to what we hold to be true.
"The idea that in 2006 the United States of America is torturing people is absolutely abhorrent to our notions of civil liberties, human rights and our Judeo-Christian values."
But Bramble believes this resolution has more to do with election-year politics than torture.
"I don't think anybody up here supports torturing prisoners, but I don't believe that is what is happening here," he said.
-- Matt Canham
But a Democratic resolution condemning the government's use of torture in the war on terrorism -- now that crosses the line, according to Provo Republican Sen. Curt Bramble.
In a heated exchange in the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday, Bramble called the resolution, sponsored by Salt Lake City Democratic Sen. Scott McCoy, an "anti-Bush bill."
"I think it is a way to slap the president," Bramble complained. He called it "bullshit" and a "crass partisan political move."
And it is a move he plans to crush.
With the support of the other Republicans in the committee, Bramble moved the bill to the Revenue and Taxation Committee, which he leads.
SJR5 is now in Bramble's control and will most likely die there.
But Democratic Sen. Gene Davis, who originally pushed for a public hearing on the torture resolution, confronted Bramble. How could it be partisan, he reasoned, if Republican Sen. John McCain from Arizona sponsored the original anti-torture amendment in the U.S. Congress.
That amendment received the support of 90 out of 100 senators. The Bush administration fought against McCain's amendment, but ultimately caved.
McCoy said he filed the resolution because "It is important for us as a people to stand up and stand together to oppose a practice that is so offensive to what we hold to be true.
"The idea that in 2006 the United States of America is torturing people is absolutely abhorrent to our notions of civil liberties, human rights and our Judeo-Christian values."
But Bramble believes this resolution has more to do with election-year politics than torture.
"I don't think anybody up here supports torturing prisoners, but I don't believe that is what is happening here," he said.
-- Matt Canham
4 Comments:
McCoy said,
"The idea that in 2006 the United States of America is torturing people is absolutely abhorrent to our notions of civil liberties, human rights and our Judeo-Christian values."
And being gay is Judeo-Christian??
Hate, prejudice, and violence are not Judeo-Christian values either.
Neither is terror
Inform the United States of America torture is out dated Utah has the answer, just treat them like state employees.....
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