Think I'll try my hand at this lobbyist thing again...Shhhh...Listen closely now...a little birdie just told me:
Dateline Washington--Upchuck -- the expected tiff between the Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees has bloomed right on schedule. Sen. McCain (R-AZ) moved his bill out of committee on a straight, party-line vote, with the chairman pledging to address Democrat member concerns prior to taking the (reportedly) Lott-blessed bill (S.96) to the floor.
Meanwhile, still on the Hill, Sen. Hatch (R-UT) has tentatively scheduled a Judiciary Comte mark-up for this Thursday, partially in response to McCain's fast-track maneuver. Hatch will lobby Lott for a delay in full Senate consideration of the McCain bill, to allow Judiciary staff to hold court re negotiations between industry's Year 2000 Coalition, the Clinton Administration (Koskinen's camp + Justice Dept.), and no doubt the trial lawyers (although usually they are well represented by the Justice Dept. folks).
Meanwhile, at the White House (?), part 2: the Admin is leaning on House and Senate Democrats not to cosponsor any Y2K liability legislation, arguing that there is no "compelling" evidence that there will be a flood of lawsuits. It's allies have taken up this mantra on the Hill, taking it a step further by quoting Bill Gates (?-MSoft), who apparently suggested during a speech in Switzerland that Y2K won't be that big of a deal. (Fiddling while Rome burns or diddling while Rome burns...you decide.)
Meanwhile, back at Guicci Gulch-- part 4 (as I forgot what part 3 was...As I am out of practice) -- some interested observers are sensing that opponents of liability legislation have adopted a "rope-a-dope" strategy, hoping to kill the legislation's momentum by promising to "talk" and offer "suggestions" to make the bill more "fair and reasonable" (read: water it down into a state of meaninglessness so that ultimately opponents can vote in favor of something identified as a Y2K bill and thereby claim to be enlightened solons, etc.).
---------------------------
Hey Ken! Are my sources good or what?...Maybe I'll pack my bags and head for DC again...Bet you never got to use the bathroom at the White House...ROTFLMAO
"flatsville"--Washington Lobbyist-Ret.
|
