[Alex]

Originally Posted by Nephythys

Less Jail Time for Selling Crack Cocaine - H.R. 2456: Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and 23 Democratic cosponsors want to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for possessing, importing, and distributing crack cocaine. John Conyers, the would-be Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over the bill, is a cosponsor.

I fully support this. Of course, I don't think crack cocaine should be illegal in the first place. But this is a move in the right direction.

Independent of the "drug war" mandatory sentenzing is almost always a horrible idea and should be resisted wherever possible.

Voting Rights for Criminals - H.R. 1300: John Conyers (D-MI) and 32 Democratic cosponsors, and H.R. 663: Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and 28 Democratic cosponsors would let convicted felons vote. Rep. John Conyers is the would-be Democratic Chairman of the Judiciary Committee which would consider this legislation.

I support this as well.

Expand Medicare to Include Diapers — H.R. 1052: Barney Frank (D-MA) supports Medicare coverage of adult diapers. Barney Frank is the would-be Chairman of the Financial Services Committee.

If Medicaire is going to exist, this seems a reasonable thing for it to cover but I can't say that I'm familiar with what Medicaire covers in the way of ameliorative devices.

Nationalized Health Care - H.R. 4683: John Dingell (D-MI) and 18 Democratic cosponsors want to expand Medicare to cover all Americans. John Dingell is the would-be Democratic Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee who along with cosponsors Charlie Rangel, would-be Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and Henry Waxman, would-be Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, would have jurisdiction over the proposal.

I oppose this if participation is mandatory and really don't support Dingell's plan. But mandating insurance through employment is an even stupider system so if universal coverage is going to be a societal goal then this is a move in the right direction as a method for achieving it. I just disagree with the goal.

Taxpayer Funded Abortions & Elimination of all Restrictions on Abortion, Including Parental Notice - H.R. 5151: Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and 66 Democratic cosponsors want to overturn even minimal restrictions on abortion such as parental notice requirements. The bill would also require taxpayer funding of abortions through the various federal health care programs. John Conyers, the would-be Chairman of Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction over the bill, is an original cosponsor.

As long as abortion is legal I see no reason it shouldn't be covered by some of the federal health care programs. And abortion should be legal.

I do support restrictions on access to abortion by minors, so long as there are judicial escape routes for extreme situations.

(kill the babies- any way you can- but don't put drug dealers in jail)

Kill the fetuses, if you want. And drug dealing shouldn't be a crime.



So, some good ideas in there. Some bad ones.

And if Democrats win in 2006, how many of those bills will pass with enough support to overcome the inevitable veto? If that happens, you should have two years of the spending nirvana you want. Dems won't pass the president's spending and he won't sign theirs. Everybody wins.