08 September 2010

UPDATE 2: FLASH! Senate Judiciary Hearing on "Firearms in Commerce?"

NRA Confirmation!  I still don't understand the motives behind Chairman Leahy for bringing this hearing to the forefront during an election year while Dems are about to get slaughtered.  It seems dumbfounding to me.  However, get on those horns and talk it up with your Senators and Congressman.  Make it an issue for them to have to deal with. 

UPDATE: FLASH! Senate Judiciary Hearing on "Firearms in Commerce?"

Despite not having a phone call returned from Senator Cardin's office (he's my junior Senator and a member of the judiciary committee), I have gotten loose confirmation that the hearing scheduled for next week is to debate S 941.  This bill is known as the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009" and is co-sponsored by Chairman Leahy.  Go figure. 

The question is, why now?  This bill clearly will not do anything to help stem the losses of the 'rats' seats, and certainly, if it is passed won't energize their base.  Perhaps it is a poison pill to claim some "moderation" on an issue that is cross-sectional and appealing to mainstream voters?  A last horrah of sorts in order to be considered American and electable entering November?  It's anybody's guess, but let's not get carried away here, it is still Washington and the committee is controlled by the leftists in power. 

More updates when I can dig them up. 

FLASH! Senate Judiciary Hearing on "Firearms in Commerce?"

FLASH:  It appears that the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hold a hearing on "Firearms in Commerce: Assessing the Need for Reform in the Federal Regulatory Process" next week on Tuesday, September 14th.  (Drudge has the only link I can find at this point, and not even the good people at Free Republic have any links or details). 

What in the world could this be?  OpenCongress.org has no info on anything other than the HR 1074 which is the "Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act.  That bill, and it's companion senate bill S 556 (haha, how appropriate, I wonder if the anti's even figured that one out) are being sponsored by Steve Scalise and David Vitter, respectfully.  Both are from Louisiana and have extremely high ratings from the NRA on bills voted on and introduced, so it's not like these are the bills that the current Judiciary Committee will be willing to push to the floor of the Senate. 

So, that leaves the question of why this would come on the docket around election time.  What are the motives?  Does the Judiciary Committee vet potential treaties (along with the Foreign Relation's Committee) as well as Congressional legislation? 

The good news is, my Senator is on the committee so I will be calling his office today to get some answers (or lies, more appropriately).

Updates to come.