‘Filling the Tree.’ That’s what they call it in the Senate when a floor manager or member of the leadership invokes a rule (Rule XV) that essentially lets him (or her) block amendments from coming to the floor to
modify a bill under consideration. While some people object to this tactic, it may well be the only way a measure gets moved from debate to actual action and that is what may be needed when it comes to the FAA bill. The bill has languished in the Senate for months, even though the House passed its version in September; a move by Sen. Jay Rockefeller to bring it up last week was met with another kind of tree decoration, in which a bill is loaded up with amendments that not only bog it down but break its limbs. A pension amendment that would have forced major airlines into millions of dollars in extra payments was one, and it was finally defeated by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, but other amendments, including one that punished any US company that moved offshore to avoid taxes, were also piled on.
Now Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat who is the Senate Majority Leader, wants to give the bill one last chance at passage 
and to do this he has filled the tree. The amendments that have already been added to the bill before last week’s action will stay, but when the bill comes up tomorrow (Tuesday) it will be a clean bill and not subject to any more burdensome decorations – bad, good, or indifferent
Go Nevada Wolfpack. Sharron Angle really woke up the establishment and oh yeah will she be a pleasure to follow. This is going to be a fun contest with Harry Reid. Tough choice between Harry's tax and pork style and her need to eliminate the Department of Education. Tough thing being a purple state. Feel so conflicted here in Goldfield, Nevada. Who is going have the supportive future on Yucca Mountain?