John Tierney: “I yield myself such time as I may consume. This is an attempt to deal with the problem that was in the underlying bill…”

“I yield myself such time as I may consume. This is an attempt to deal with the problem that was in the underlying bill, as pointed out by that letter, but an attempt that mirrors the process for the last session and this session. They didn't consult anybody. They didn't talk to anybody. They didn't say what would be the solution. They just went out and arbitrarily decided that, again, having once messed up, they thought they were the repository for all knowledge on this subject and went about setting on a course that still falls short. Yes, current law allows for Governors to work with the consultation of others to set local designated areas, but areas of 500,000 population or more are already designated, and that's the point at issue here. I think we've seen an example of the process--just deciding that all knowledge is reposited in one section; not wanting to discuss with others. We understand. This could have been a good bill. This could have been a bill that went through the House, was taken up by the Senate, and then went on to the President's desk--a bill that the public could have been proud of, a bill that everybody could have got behind, but we didn't. We see a failed process, so we end up with a failed part of the provision of the original bill, and another failed attempt to fix it because there's no reaching out and no attempt. Last time we had some hearings, very brief. Then we had a vote where partisan votes went all the way down the line.…”