After days of "castigating" GOPers for "allegedly stalling a veterans benefits package," Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) "himself decided to postpone the start of the debate" in order to "accommodate the schedules of" Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The '08ers "insisted on being allowed to vote on an unrelated measure that under a previous agreement will occur just prior to the start of the veterans debate."
Reid's "unusual decision" prompted this from Min. Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) spokesperson Don Stewart: "It totally undercuts what they've been saying all day. It's a Democrat filibuster of the veterans bill." In response, Reid spokesperson Jim Manley said: "Sen. Reid offered the Republicans exactly what they said they wanted: a chance to spend all day debating the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act. To do so, however, he asked that we move the time of the vote on the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. In typical obstructionist fashion, Republicans refused to do so."
Ultimately, Reid's "only choice was to delay the start of" the 4/23 session, "because under Senate rules the vote on the motion to begin debate must occur one day and one hour after cloture has been invoked," which occurred 4/22 a.m. Still, "it's unclear why Reid, Obama and Clinton have insisted that they be present for the equal rights vote." While it is a popular measure with Dems and liberal interest groups, GOPers "have more than enough votes to block it" 4/23, making Clinton's and Obama's votes largely "symbolic" (Stanton, Roll Call, 4/22).
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The DNC announced its '08 Hispanic Leadership Council 4/22, and "accused John McCain of betraying Hispanics on immig. reform and failing to address such issues as the economy." The council is made up of business owners, activists and community leaders "who have given at least" $5K to the Dems. It's led by Gilberto Ocanas, a TX-based consultant, and Ingrid Duran, a DC-based consultant and ex-CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Ocanas: "We shouldn't wait for people to engage us. We should engage our own folks." RNC spokesperson Danny Diaz: "The Democrats may be announcing their effort, but we've been executing ours for 365 days a year" (Gamboa, AP, 4/22).
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