Senate Democrats are planning a major public relations event tonight – and into tomorrow morning – to highlight the growing danger of their party’s fear of and dependence on Tom Steyer’s money (or maybe it’s climate change, sort of hard to tell). Tonight’s fake filibuster was reported in USA Today over the weekend, and the reason for the talk-a-thon has dollar signs all over it, because as the story points out:
“The Democratic effort is cause for some confusion because these senators are calling for action in a chamber they control but without any specific legislation to offer up for a vote, or any timetable for action this year.”
Our state’s senators are part of the recently-formed “Climate Action Task Force”, which appears to have been formed because the Senate liberals won’t actually take action on anything related to climate change, as also noted by Joel Connelly in the Seattle P-I. But they do like the attention that their stunt will attract for their billionaire benefactor, Tom Steyer.
Regular Shift readers are well versed in the challenge’s Mr. Steyer has with following Washington State’s public disclosure laws. And they are familiar with his scheme to spend $100 million or more this year to advance his radical environmental agenda.
In writing about tonight’s event, the Washington Post pointed out that only two Senators with potentially tough races this year will participate, Jeanne Shaheen and Mark Udall. Guess what they have in common:
“Shaheen and Udall are two of many Democrats who’ve attended fundraisers and events organized by environmental groups, including some sponsored by billionaire Thomas Steyer.
The Post points out the irony that must have Steyer wonder whether he is just being used for his money:
“As for whether Senate Democrats would ever actually do something about climate change — instead of just talking about it — there currently is no piece of legislation expected to come up for debate soon on the Senate floor.”
But evidently tonight’s stunt was promised to Steyer at a recent fundraiser he hosted. As reported in the Washington Examiner:
“A few weeks ago (Senator Harry) Reid and several leading Democratic senators attended a fundraiser at billionaire Tom Steyer’s San Francisco home. The event, for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, also featured former Vice President Al Gore…An all-night talkathon is not exactly bold action. But perhaps it’s enough for Democrats to show their big-money donors that they’re doing something.”
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