A friend of the blog sent me an email today about "concerns" Michele Bachmann has about the Land Management Bill the President signed into law today. While this friend pointed out how closely these "concerns" mirrored those of her corporate puppets, I found it more interesting that her "concerns" and her post in general are little more than a copy and paste job from the Republican Study Committee legislative bulletins site.
From the RSC:
On March 11, 2009, House Republicans defeated identical legislation (S. 22) under suspension of the rules. After defeat, the Senate considered the legislation again by bringing up the House-passed Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act (H.R. 146) and replacing its text with the text of the House-passed Omnibus Lands Package (S. 22). Procedurally, this means the House can only “concur” with the Senate amendment and prevents House Republicans from offering a motion to recommit.
and from Michele:
On March 11, 2009, House Republicans defeated identical legislation (S. 22) under suspension of the rules. After defeat, the Senate considered the legislation again by bringing up the House-passed Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act (H.R. 146) and replacing its text with the text of the House-passed Omnibus Lands Package (S. 22). Procedurally, this means the House can only “concur” with the Senate amendment and prevents House Republicans from offering a motion to recommit.
The concerns set forward by the RSC with handy dandy marks so that conservatives can cut along the dotted line and not have to think too hard:
And from Michele:KEY CONCERNS:
– Blocks millions of acres from new oil and gas leasing, logging, mining, and all other business activity in these areas.
– Eliminates 1.2 million acres from mineral leasing and energy exploration in Wyoming alone - withdrawing 331 million barrels of recoverable oil and 8.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from domestic energy supply.
– Designates more than 2 million acres of land as wilderness areas; permanently eliminating human access for energy exploration or recreational opportunities.
– Eliminates a proposed terminal site for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Massachusetts by designating a river that runs through a city as “wild and scenic”.
– Authorizes $5.5 billion of new discretionary spending over five years and $900 million of direct spending.
– Makes collecting fossils an illegal activity, subjecting thousands of hobbyists to 5 years in federal jail.
– Pork Projects: $3.5 million to the city of St. Augustine, FL for a birthday party, $200,000 for a tropical botanical garden in Hawaii, $250,000 to study the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and $37 million for a park in New Jersey that is not even supported by the National Park Service.
You will notice that she gives no credit to her overlords at the Republican Study Committee and represents these concerns and this writing as her own. I understand the use of talking points but to completely lift the entirety of those talking points word for word and pawn them off as your opinion seems intellectually dishonest.
After reading this you have to wonder what percentage of the "concerns" Michele Bachmann has on any issue are her own and what percentage are verbatim talking points cut and pasted directly into her brain. Perhaps we in the 6th District are now being represented by the Republican Study Committee? In the future, if I have a question or comment about legislation will I need to contact the RSC in order to determine the opinion of Representative Bachmann?
After reading this you have to wonder what percentage of the "concerns" Michele Bachmann has on any issue are her own and what percentage are verbatim talking points cut and pasted directly into her brain. Perhaps we in the 6th District are now being represented by the Republican Study Committee? In the future, if I have a question or comment about legislation will I need to contact the RSC in order to determine the opinion of Representative Bachmann?
Cross Posted on Dump Bachmann
