Not satisfied with giving St. Hugo absolute power for the next 18 months, the socialists in the Venezuelan National Assembly are clamping down to keep the sheep from straying from the herd:
steven johnson (1000+ posts) Wed Dec-22-10 06:54 AM
Original message
Venezuela to Make Lawmakers Vote With Their Parties
Source: Reuters
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's National Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday to stop lawmakers voting against their political parties in the latest move of a legislative onslaught before a new parliament is seated next month.
Opponents of socialist President Hugo Chavez say the new bill is an attack on the right of Assembly members to vote with their consciences in South America's biggest oil producer.
The outgoing parliament, which is dominated by members of Chavez's ruling Socialist Party, has passed a raft of laws in recent days including one that lets the former soldier bypass the next Assembly and rule by decree for 18 months.
Tuesday's bill was denounced by a small group of lawmakers who split with Chavez's self-styled revolution. The president of parliament, Cilia Flores, said the new legislation would stop other members from switching sides during the next Assembly.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/12/21/world/international-us-venezuela-politics-law.html?ref=world
Far beyond party pressure, having your party's whip hound you for a vote, the lemmings are required
BY LAW to vote with the gang!
Forget voting your conscience. Forget evolving your position in the light of new facts. No! Hugo says "Jump" you say "How high?"
Naturally, the Yugoistas are ready to stand by their man. Beth thinks it is heralding a new era of even more open government:
EFerrari (1000+ posts) Wed Dec-22-10 12:32 PM
Response to Reply #3
32. Hilarious. Omfg, Venezuela may pass a bill for greater transparency in government!
OMFG, damn you, HUGO!
LOL
Bewildred is not sure if it will pass legal muster, but if it does, no biggie:
bemildred (1000+ posts) Wed Dec-22-10 08:50 AM
Response to Reply #6
9. I don't think its going to work so good, or stand up in court.
But I can't say it worries me much either.
But David the 77th thinks the idea is peachy keen!
David__77 (1000+ posts) Wed Dec-22-10 10:11 AM
Response to Original message
21. I have no problem with this.
People vote for parties' programs. If someone wants to be an independent, let them run as such. Too many times, in this country too, people were elected to do something, and then when they are not subject to party discipline, they flip over to a whole different program.
Still waiting on the Judi Lynn and Peace Patriot spins.