Franken Amendment may be stripped from final bill

well, if the government's not going to do anything about it, then we should.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_defense_contractors

Here's a list of the Senators who voted against it:

Alexander (R-TN), Barrasso (R-WY), Bond (R-MO), Brownback (R-KS), Bunning (R-KY), Burr (R-NC), Chambliss (R-GA), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Corker (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), Crapo (R-ID), DeMint (R-SC), Ensign (R-NV), Enzi (R-WY), Graham (R-SC), Gregg (R-NH), Inhofe (R-OK), Isakson (R-GA), Johanns (R-NE), Kyl (R-AZ), McCain (R-AZ), McConnell (R-KY), Risch (R-ID), Roberts (R-KS), Sessions (R-AL), Shelby (R-AL), Thune (R-SD), Vitter (R-LA), Wicker (R-MS)

"However, most Republicans opposed the amendment because it went against the wishes of the Defense Department, and argued it gave Congress too much influence in altering defense contracts."

"Republicans point out that the amendment was opposed by a host of business interests, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and applies to a wide range of companies, including IBM and Boeing."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1009/Tough_vote_for_Vitter_Burr.html?sho...

the thing that republicans, the defense department, and the chamber of commerce seem to forget is that our country belongs to the people. the will of america is carried about by elected officials. to that end, congress should have as much say as they want on defense contracts. i'm pretty sure that the will of the people doesn't include sanctioning rape, no matter where or why it occurs. finally, the interests of businesses and government institutions should never supersede the rights of a human being. after all, those businesses and institutions are made up of human beings, even if they forget to act like it.

The sixth amendment states that the "accused" has the "right" to a speedy trial. Key words here are "accused" and "right" which implies it's not a requirement if the accused chooses to forego it. At least that's the way I read it. So what happens when the accused doesn't want a public trial because arbitration will be cheaper and less visible to the public. Clearly our forefathers never envisioned a situation where the victim of the accused would be need the same guarantee as the accused. Then again our forefathers probably didn't envision a corporate take over of America either.

Well this is um who cares

Just when I think our government can't get any worse. I was appalled to find out that 38 senators had vote against the Franken Amendment. Now I'm sickened that it might not included in this final bill. As a liberal & one who usually votes for democrats, I'm f'n sick of the & tired of many of the people in democratic party; who are supposed to represent me in Washington. They talk of about the republican's civil war will split them into a 3rd party. But if this keeps up, us true liberals will create a be flocking to a new party. At least then we will be closer to a "real" Democracy!

this is the most unnecessarily complexly worded article ever. i cant for the life of me understand what franken's amendment is trying to do, its too much double talk and roundabout language and bullshit.
so yeah, voted down cause it doesnt make sense

What can possibly be the justification?

What a sad state the world is in when we're debating if we should make rape illegal again...

I loved all Franken's books.

I am so glad I gave money to his campaign and so glad that I was able to support him in the primary thanks to Dr. Deans party building software. I knew from day one that Franken would make a great Senator because he's human, he's down to earth and not a career politician and that means he brings something thats much needed to the senate. A backbone and some common sense.

you liberals are so assed up it isnt even funny.

What great Government we have!!

I would expect no less in a society that is fundamentally run by corporations. But Inouye is taking a big chance. He is betting, I'm sure,that people will forget about this before he has to face the electorate. But the fact is, if this is stripped from the defense bill, he will lose his bid for reelection. And ironically, it will be his Republican opponent who beats him over the head with this. Then he'll go to work as a lobbyist for the defense industry.

Well, at least our government is consistent on ignoring its citizens problems.

I agree with all of you BUT why isnt this a stand alone bill instead of sliding it on a defense spending like they did the hate crime stuff why not make it the Fraken bill and push it through.The habit of our so called leaders of sliding stuff into bills that have no real bearing on what they are trying to do is the main reason our goverment is so corrupt.

Featured in US Congress Watch!

Another earlier article on the same subject with some specifics

This is proof that many years ago our constitution allowed congress to build a special world where they could be above the civil law and setting on a throne in a higher realm than where we live. If congress can permit corporate Rape and crime, Just where is justice? We have a supreme court who is suposed to mete out law and Justice which is near to what a Loving God would propose. In Lieu of a God, Congress is the best the human race could afford but no one ever could have imagined that nearly all politicians could have been bought and sold by corporate America, nor could we have ever imagined that corruption could become a legal way of life for politicians. Its a shame but its a fact. Presidents and politicians can go begging for money for elections, while unemployed Americans with no income would be arrested for begging for money to feed his family. Police are supposed to enforce the law yet they support Corporate America above the people. Where is the scales of Justice?

I wasn't aware that private contracts trump federal laws... I said I wasn't aware, not surprised.

That is exactly why WE THE PEOPLE need a new generation of politicians as Franken in power.

Out with the derelicts !

The youth of this country can do this just as easily as Grayson opens his mouth ;)

"He who does not punish evil, commands it to be done."- Leonardo da Vinci

"And on the most exalted throne in the world sits nothing but a man's arse." – Montaigne

What is wrong with the Democratic leadership? This is BS.

Washington D.C.
722 Hart Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1102
Phone: 202-224-3934
Fax: 202-224-6747

this is Sen. Inouye's contact info you can also send him a message on his website....tell him he's a dick
http://inouye.senate.gov/Contact/Email-Form.cfm

A democrat needing money? People here tend to make it out that only Republicans do that.

Ooops.

Nothing like a Democrat stomping on another democrat's toes. Looks like it hurt. -no comment-

Where's his balls now?

Another fine example of corporate power -vs- citizens rights. Want to break the law ? Form a business...buy a politician; morally righteous need not apply. USA 2009

WTF?!

"The anti-rape amendment introduced by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) may be stripped from the defense appropriations bill by Appropriations chairman Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI),"

This Inouye fellow is who we all need to write a letter too about the fallacies in stripping this amendment from the bill. Write him a nice, long, but firm letter about the reasons and your opinions why it should be allowed to pass. If we don't the white house won't do shit diddily crap.

Franken for president !

This is unreal. Our country has become very sick when corporations can cut language from a bill that would help prevent rape. All these guys will be sorry when women start working together, rather than rallying around men and take back the power they started to recieve in the seventies. I bet if some of these honcos got raped, it would be completly different.

Heres MY answer-----------YES, it should be criminal,...and in terms of punishment,... I'm just sort of mulling over the notion; "was crucification REALLY so out of line"?

Here's my question, shouldn't it be criminal to deny an American citizen justice by using employment contracts prevent employees from taking work-related allegations of rape and discrimination to court, at the very least it aiding and abeiting!