Say Anything Blog

Sen. Stevens is 'the secret senator'

The identity of the blogosphere's "secret senator" has been revealed. CNN has confirmed that Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has placed a hold on a bill that would require the government to publish online a database of federal spending. "He does have a hold on the bill," Stevens' spokesperson Aaron Saunders told CNN. "At the time he placed the hold he notified Sen. [Tom] Coburn and his staff and identified several questions we had with the bill. Two weeks ago Sen. Coburn named Stevens as having a hold on the bill, so we don't consider it a secret." Senate tradition allows any senator to keep a piece of legislation from reaching the Senate floor by placing a hold on the bill. Coburn's office confirmed that Coburn had revealed Stevens' hold during a town hall meeting in Oklahoma two weeks ago.

I don't think this comes as a surprise to anyone. Senator Stevens is also the one responsible for wanting funds to complete the infamous "bridge to nowhere." There is rarely a time when conservative and liberal bloggers can unite on one issue. This is one of them. The essence of democracy is that the people should know exactly how their money is being spent. This bill is a no-brainer. Because of the hold and because he wishes to shield Congress's spending from the American people, I can no longer support Sen. Stevens and hope that another Republican challenges him in a primary. This is America. On spending matters... I want to know how my money is being spent. I think Congress is getting that message. This is yet more proof of the affect bloggers are having on American politics.