>1) he agreed that the bankruptcy bill from the last session could go
>directly to the floor for a vote, rather than following the usual
>rules of new session-new committee. With Leahy now in charge of the
>judiciary and both Toricelli and Biden off the judiciary committee,
>the committee votes to amend the bill into a far more consumer
>friendly bill would have gone rather differently. Indeed, if the
>Dems in the committee didn't like the bill, it never would have
>gotten out. By saying the previous session's bill could go straight
>to the floor, Daschle kept the bill alive in its current form.
>
>2) he appointed Joe Biden to the house/senate conference. Joe
>Biden was off the judiciary committee, and Daschle had to bypass
>others who are on the judiciary committee who have been VERY active
>on bankruptcy in order to make a space for Biden. Biden works for
>MBNA and he will cut whatever deals need to be cut to get the bill
>through. The American Bankers Assn was deeply relieved to see Biden
>on the committee, regarding him as a good friend.
>
>In both cases, all Daschle needed to do to kill or maim the bill was
>follow the usual practices--in new sessions, bills go to committees,
>committee members get appointed to conferences.
Down enough with the legislative mechanics for you, Nathan?
Doug