De-funding the veep

Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 1:45 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Congress, Democrats

From NBC's Mike Viqueira

House Democrats are moving forward with a vote on de-funding the office of the vice president, even though it appears that Dick Cheney and his staff are backing off the claim that they are part of the legislative branch. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D) says he will put forward an amendment tomorrow that would strip the $4.7 million funding Cheney's executive branch operations ($4.4 for the office of the VP, $300,000 for his residence at the Naval Observatory).

The vote comes on the annual bill that funds Treasury, the offices of the president and the vice president, and several other federal agencies.

As NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reported yesterday, Cheney's office has implied that they will no longer use the argument that they are part of the legislative branch as a means to avoid document security checks, owing to the veep's position as president of the Senate. Having said that, they are still stiffing the National Archives.

The veep's operations are also funded through the defense spending bill (Air Force II, etc.) and the legislative branch spending bill (president of the Senate). These streams will not be touched, for now. It's unclear whether Emanuel's measure will pass. It's still being written.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Ahhh, now we find out how dirty and mean the democrats can get.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 1:51 PM)

Let's hope so.

Bob K, Anywhere, USA (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:02 PM)

His claim of not being part of the Executive branch was just too stupid. He should have just said he wanted to keep them safe from Sandy Berger, or other stealing & leaking democrats.

Dave, Tn (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:04 PM)

IT is about time we stopped
funding the Republian PARTY OF DEATH! Enough of the secrect gestapo WAR AND DEATH PARTY. TORTURE PARTY!
Can we ever be as bad as they I doubt it but lets TRY.

H P Boston (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:04 PM)

Sounds like the mean spirited liberals are showing thier true colors. Sure didn't take long. I'm looking forward to seeing Clinton fangs. This is gonna be fun!

Bush Republican (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:11 PM)

Good for the Dems. But they should impeach that bastard.

scott, winona mn (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:18 PM)

Mean-spirited Democrats???!!! Cheney is the epitome of mean-spirited. He doesn't care about the Constitution, the law or the American people. He is only interested in achieving HIS agenda. Seems to me someone who acts as if they are above the law should have their legs cut out from underneath them so they can come down to earth and live with the rest of us.

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:22 PM)

congress surely can find something better to do than this ridiculous display of childishness, nobody is going to defund anything, and congress wonders why the american people rate them so poorly, I suppose it's better they waste they're time doing this rather than waste it on faux immigration reform, maybe it will be a few more weeks before they hand the deed to the u.s.a. over to the illegals

MK,MO (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:24 PM)

Amazing. People are complaining about someone being mean to Cheney. Enforcing the law is mean?

Scott in South Texas (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:26 PM)

jerry/corpus christy texas and bush republican have shown us that they have their heads in a place that only lets them see brown.

They are probably part of the 40% of republicans that still believe the bush lie that Iraq was responsible for 911.

Pull your heads out of your rear ends and get some fresh air boys.

RC in Denver (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:27 PM)

It's about time the Dems starting being as nasty and vindictive as the Repubs.

They lose elections because they try to be civil. It's time for the gloves to come off.

So what are you today oh evil one....legislative or executive?

Jim, Atlanta Georgia (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:29 PM)

"He's a mean old man Such a dirty old man"-"Mr. Mustardseed"-Beatles

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:31 PM)

Bush Republica-Since you hate anything liberal..I suggest you refuse to use any progressive NEW DEAL programs like social security, medicare, family leave, minimum wage for any teenager/grandchild you may have and other benefits you are using thanks to liberals. Neo-con's main goal is destroy the fabric of what made this country great. Because you sir/madam are a hypocrite.

juan, ft. lauderdale,fl (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:32 PM)

Deadeye Dick is above the law, didn't you all get the memo? Oh, wait, you all didn't get it because it was classified top secret...sorry, dumb question...

The Edge, Macon, GA (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:33 PM)

That liberal congress, wasting their time with de-funding the VP office LOL. Rahm Emmanuel is probably the lamest member of congress I have seen. Judging from his congressional record, he really does not represent the people of Illinois very well. I guess he just needs this to keep his name in the paper

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:36 PM)

A typical knee-jerk reaction from a conservative is to never even consider the issue at hand - the knee-jerk aims directly at the only real issue; those crazy Democrats. What Cheney did doesn't matter - the worse the punishment, the worse the Democrats are. Blame the messenger.

Rondo, Seattle, Wash (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:37 PM)

Yeah right Jerry, it is the dems fault that elmer fudd claimed that he is not part of the executive branch of government, them meany dems anyway. Get a grip, drink another glass of that koolaid crap then insert your head back up your butt.

beaverdambob (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:38 PM)

Says right in the constitution that the VP is part of the executive branch. He says he isn't, then suddenly changes his mind when his executive branch funding gets threatened. Twat.

a to the k, from mi (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:42 PM)

Wow. I never thought I'd see the day when all the tough talking neo-cons on these boards would walk around crying like small children because the big bad liberals are being mean to Dick Cheney. I think some people might need to be put down for a nap...

John Doe, The Peanut Gallery (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:48 PM)

"I guess he just needs this to keep his name in the paper"

Just like you need this blog to spew your idiotic remarks Jer.

jeanie o, saint inigoes, md (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:50 PM)

'a to the k'... it does? Where does it say which branch includes the VP? Legally, I thought it was an interesting point. My dislike of this administration stems in part from the fact that they only come up with such ideas out of expediency, not principle. That and they are reckless about how they throw these ideas out. Bottom line is the Constitution provides no such defining paragraph, but the VP being part of the executive branch has been a working assumption by those who have to put in practice the government broudly outlined by the Constitution. This assumption might go all the way back to Washington's administration - I'm not sure. Cheney just haphazardly throws it out there like a turd in the punchbowl only to fluster those asking him to turn over documents. Do they see themselves as above the law, maybe. Above the norms and traditions upon which we've operated for decades if not centuries, absolutely. And that's reason enough to want these guys out of there.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:56 PM)

It's about time the Democrats took a tough stand on President Cheney. let's hope they go after his equally inept dummy bush next.

C.W. The heartland U.S.A. (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:58 PM)

Cheney's only duties under the constitution are to break ties in the Senate. For that he doesn't need $4.7 million. What a waste of taxpayer money. Congress is within its rights to cut that.

Russell in Maryland (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 3:00 PM)

Poor meek little Dick Cheney, picked on by those mean, bullying Liberals. That makes me laugh. Now go read the WaPo series on Cheney so you know what he's really like and what he's really doing.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 3:13 PM)

Yes we are the mean spirited wing of the democratic party do not confuse us as the wimpfaction of the party that wants to work with republicans who used to make the dems hold hearings in the basement or cut thier mics off while in mid sentence .Whats amatter you dont like whats good for the goose is good for the gander.that is why we say let dick mess around without oversite because the way we see it were are going to win 2008 and then see what the mean spirited dems do.

ken orr (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 3:19 PM)

Everybody on this board is missing the point. Executive branch or not is not what is important. What really matters is: What is Cheney trying to hide? That is the real question. Anything else is a distraction away from the real issue here.

We all know that Rove, Cheney and Bush on top have lied to the American people a several occasions (some will call it PR). The evidence is out there. What are we waiting for?

Did America, a country based on wonderful principles, really fall that low and be led by a bunch of liars? Wake-up before it is too late.

Roman Devivo (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 3:28 PM)

Mr. Emmanuel is so LAME that he has Cheney backing off like a sissy. The dems are going after the repubs in every area. Ha Ha, lets watch the repubs squirm while their worse president ever and their party goes down in flames. Losers!!!

bb (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 3:30 PM)

Song to Cheney-"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"-Bachman Turner Overdrive

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 3:31 PM)

This is a perfect example of a party that can dish out trash and pettiness, but they can't take it. Years of republicans doing as they please and turning their heads on dishonest acts (I'll list them is you like). But, now that the light is shinning on some of their wrong doing, they say, "Me? Us? I/we didn't do anything wrong! Can you believe how unfair they are treating me/us?" I taught middle school for years and I see the two parties acting basically like adolesences. There has been great disappointment in democrats with how gentle they are handling the republicans. Hopefully, justice will be done!

WG Nedwman, Asheville, NC (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 3:45 PM)

HEY DICK ! HAVE I GOT A SUPOENA FOR YOU!

JOHNNY JUSTICE ANYWHERE USA (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 3:50 PM)

HEY DICK EVER HEAR OF "GONZO GATE" ?

JOHNNY JUSTICE ANYWHERE USA (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:11 PM)

Jerry: "Mean and dirty????" What is mean and dirty about holding Cheney accountable for his actions and and his statements? He's frequently claimed "executive priviledge" but contends he's not in the executive branch. It's always "liberals" and "politics" whenever anyone questions the ludicrous statements and positions this crowd takes to justify their circumvention of the Constitution. Theirs is not a "conservative", strict interpretation of the Constitution - their interpretation is based on what ever they think they can get away with. Until Cheney, no VP ever contended he was not in the Executive branch. If he's in the Legislative branch, how and when did he get get elected and what state does he represent? As far as I know, every state has just 2 senators. So other than casting the occasional tie breaking vote because the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate ex officio (i.e. holding an office by virtue of holding another"), he ONLY holds a tie-breaking position in the Senate because he holds an office in....the Executive Branch! Nothing new here - and certainly nothing "mean and dirty" about challenging Cheney's continual attempts to dissemble, shade, conceal, and evade the truth and compliance with Bush's own executive order with regard to secrets and open government. For these two, Bush and Cheney, "democracy" is something they wear on their sleeves, not something in which they truly believe.

R.Merrell (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:18 PM)

The Dems will defund the VP, but are too cowardly to defund the war. Rahm...your yellow stripe is showing!

Adam, Chicago IL (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:23 PM)

With the exception of Richard Nixon, I've never seen such high-handed tactics by members of the Executive Branch of the government. Together, Bush and Cheney have given this country a bad name. The world has lost respect for the leadership that once characterized the policies of this nation.

Alfred D. Cutno, LaPlace, Louisiana (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:32 PM)

Its amazing that the '08 election continues to get easier for the democratic party. Bush and Cheney continue to dig the republcian grave deeper and deeper. The corrupt "GOP Titanic" is finally sinking and they are jumping ship. Unfortunately for the GOP, the only surivor will be Bush with a nice little pension and a library which will highlight his eight years of stupidity.

Ricardo in California (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:47 PM)

I wouldn't go as far as to call Dick Cheney the devil, thats just crazy liberal talk, I'm sure he's only a close blood relation, maybe a first cousin or half brother. John from des moines is right, all bush admin supporters should read those WaPo articles about cheney and please try to rationalize the crap this administration has pulled. The things they've done out of public view is even worse than the constitutional atrocities they've done in the open.

Tay, West Palm Beach, Fl (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:57 PM)

Adam, Chicago - If memory serves the dems voted to put time limits for bringing the troops home and the repugs voted against it. Who is obstructing here? Typical republicant response.

Dennis E., Dallas, Tx (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 5:08 PM)

"If you want to kill the snake, cut it's head off." Rip Torn in the movie "Twilight's Last Gleaming"

Acid Boy,AZ (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 5:09 PM)

R. Merrell--WELL SAID!!!

Lisa - Fort Worth TX (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 5:14 PM)

The question is NOT "what part of High Crimes and Misdemeanors" Cheney does NOT understand, but whether Impeachment will do more harm than letting Bush and Cheney remain in office for the next 18 months.

AllanH (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 6:07 PM)

Some of you neocons are real droolers! Cheney is in the executive when it comes to getting money, but NOT in the executive when it comes to the law of the land. Why don't you just get on your knees and call him "Lord"? And why don't you decide if the Democrats are confrontational, or appeasers? Too stupid to know the difference? Zieg Heil, right wing!

Lee in CA (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 8:48 PM)

Jim Atlanta Ga...I agree, we have been sooooo nice while these war mongers ruin our America.
Nice gets you kicked in the head. Time to fight fire with fire.
Time to pin them to the wall with our own retoric.
The dems have to start banging out the same message in every speech , every interview, everyone gets the memo.
They are the WAR PARTY, THEY ARE criminals, they are the torture party.
Never let up for the NEXT YEAR AND 5 months.
Please repeat every chance you get.

H P Boston (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 10:37 PM)

You all act like this hasn't been going on for the the past six years! This page just shows that everyone is right... but the truth. Get a grip, start looking for a real leader to take over after this bunch of rats...

Joe Cool, Old Town USA (Sent Thursday, June 28, 2007 12:12 AM)

I love it...de-fund the architect of the American Police State! And then, yes, de-fund Bush's idiotic war. Then in 2008, we can de-fund the Republican Party! Let the neo-cons whine and moan---they made their bed of nails, now they have to let America out of it and lie down on it themselves!

Jim, Washington D.C. (Sent Thursday, June 28, 2007 9:09 AM)

When Benito Mussolini was asked by an interviewer once in the thirties what he thought of being called a Facist, he said that was a misnomer. Because, he said, he believed government and businiess should be hand-in-glove, his brand of evilshould be called "Corporatism". (I'm not making this up, folks.) Considering how Cheney tromps on freedoms and the U.S. Constitution, and all the no-bid contracts Halliburton and other Big Biz multinationals get (see today's Washington Post), we now know that Cheney must be the reincarnation of Mussolini! We need to watch these guys VERY, VERY closely!

Jim, Washington, D.C. (Sent Thursday, June 28, 2007 9:20 AM)

"Hey Dick! Whatever you think of us is totally irrelevant..."- Mau Mau, Jefferson Starship circa 1970

Buzz (Sent Thursday, June 28, 2007 10:42 AM)

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