Thune Passing Bills Daschle Couldn't

Sibby is talking about some bills passing thanks to our new Senator:

Thune getting it done

Highway bill, Energy bill and now the gun liability protection bill are getting done. Tom Daschle failed on all three, but what a difference a Senator makes:

The U.S. Senate today approved legislation shielding gun makers, including Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. and Sturm, Ruger & Co., from lawsuits after Republicans succeeded in blocking most Democratic amendments to the measure. Shares of gun makers rose more than 10 percent.

``We cannot allow this industry to be bankrupted by unfounded lawsuits,'' said Senator John Thune, a South Dakota Republican.

Similar legislation was defeated in the Senate last year after approval of an amendment to ban military-style weapons, a change opposed by the National Rifle Association. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee used a procedural tactic to limit amendments to the measure this year. A similar measure was passed in the House last year and approved by the House Judiciary Committee this year. President George W. Bush supports the legislation.

The report noted why this bill gone done:

Republicans were aided in their efforts to block amendments to the bill by the 2004 elections, which increased their numbers in the 100 member body by three to 54. ``The obvious difference is the change in Senate membership,'' said Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reed, one of the bill's primary opponents.

After John Thune and the people of South Dakota got rid of the Daschle Dead Zone, things are now getting done in the US Senate.

Highway bill, Energy bill and now the gun liability protection bill are getting done. Tom Daschle failed on all three, but what a difference a Senator makes:

The U.S. Senate today approved legislation shielding gun makers, including Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. and Sturm, Ruger & Co., from lawsuits after Republicans succeeded in blocking most Democratic amendments to the measure. Shares of gun makers rose more than 10 percent.

``We cannot allow this industry to be bankrupted by unfounded lawsuits,'' said Senator John Thune, a South Dakota Republican.

Similar legislation was defeated in the Senate last year after approval of an amendment to ban military-style weapons, a change opposed by the National Rifle Association. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee used a procedural tactic to limit amendments to the measure this year. A similar measure was passed in the House last year and approved by the House Judiciary Committee this year. President George W. Bush supports the legislation.

The report noted why this bill gone done:

Republicans were aided in their efforts to block amendments to the bill by the 2004 elections, which increased their numbers in the 100 member body by three to 54. ``The obvious difference is the change in Senate membership,'' said Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reed, one of the bill's primary opponents.

After John Thune and the people of South Dakota got rid of the Daschle Dead Zone, things are now getting done in the US Senate.