Replies to post #599559 on Zeev's Turnips Patch-No Politics (ZEEV)

[corduroy19]

that's my question as well!

[caddman]

Because laws are passed by both the House and the Senate, then the President signs it.

Bills start in either house. Each passes the bill. Amendments are always added. Once passing each house, a Conference Committee of Senators and Representatives negotiate the differences out of each version of the bill. Then each House does a final vote for passage. The President signs or vetoes. Signed are now law. Vetoes go back to the floor of each house for 2/3 majority (might be 3/5) to override the veto. If not, the Bill is dead.

So, yes, the Senate can vote on its version of the bailout. Giving time for the bailout to be modified and then sent to the House of Representatives for a vote.

caddman (who paid attention in High School government class)

[langostino]

"WTF happened to constitutional Law?"

You're confusing Constitutional law with parliamentary procedure. Although it breaks with custom, there's hardly a violation of law in the Senate voting first on a bill, then passing it on to the House.

Remember, unless the House and Senate version of any bill are identical, they go to Conference Committee to have the differences negotiated anyway. Doubtless in this instance every effort will be made to get identical bills, but if buying the last handful of House votes necessary for passage involves adding in a few extra goodies to the House version, that's what will happen. And then the leaders' hand-picked conferees on the Conference Committee can make a match however they want.