US Senator caught admitting that lame duck session is 'rigged'

Wednesday, December 01, 2010 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer
Tags: lame duck session, Senate, health news

(NaturalNews) The recent passage of Senate Bill 510, the so-called "Food Safety Modernization Act" took place during the Senate's "lame duck" session -- the time after the fall elections, but before the new members of Congress have been installed, where Congress reconvenes to discuss various business matters and pending legislation. And Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) was recently caught on tape admitting that the lame duck session is rigged, and that the Congress has no idea what will be discussed prior to having it brought before them.

Since many of the Congressmen participating in the lame duck session have already been voted out -- but have yet to be replaced by their successors -- interesting things often happen because they can essentially vote however they want without repercussions. They also apparently rig the sessions in order to advance various agendas.

"There's nothing about -- because it's all rigged," Bennet was recorded as saying. "I mean, the whole conversation is rigged. The fact that we don't get to a discussion before the break about what we're going to do in the lame duck -- is just rigged. This stuff's rigged."

Of course, Bennet had no idea that he was in front of a live microphone when he said this. And once he realized it, he quickly shut it off. But interestingly enough, the comments came during the proceedings about S. 510, the controversial "food safety" bill that was just passed by the lame duck Senate. And the statements give credence to widely-held notions that Congressional hearings are not conducted properly or fairly, and that there is likely much foul play occurring throughout the entire process.

Bennet later attempted to whitewash his statements by generalizing them into nothing more than "disappoint[ment] in partisan politics and political games that prevent progress." Unfortunately for him, though, the cat is already out of the bag.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/...