Constituo - to fix

ABA Daily Newsbytes, Dec. 7, 2007
CONGRESS
Senate Passes AMT FixThe Senate last night passed by an 88-5 vote a bill that would provide a one-year fix for the alternative minimum tax, but does not include a tax offset to pay for the $50 billion in revenues that would be lost. The Senate vote is at odds with the House, which passed legislation (H.R. 3996) Nov. 9 that would provide an AMT fix and extend a number of expiring tax-break provisions, but would offset them mainly by closing tax loopholes for hedge funds, equity funds and other financial partnerships. The House bill also would permanently exclude mortgage debt forgiveness from individual taxpayers' income, extend the deductibility of private mortgage insurance until 2015, and delay from 2011 to 2012 the effective date of the ABA-opposed 3 percent withholding provision. For more information, contact ABA's Larry Seyfried.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines “Fix” in a number of ways, three of which make sense in context, but I leave the reader to discern which is actually meant.
7.
To correct or set right; adjust: fix a misspelling; fix the out-of-date accounts.
To restore to proper condition or working order; repair: fix a broken machine.
9.
To spay or castrate
11.
To influence the outcome or actions of by improper or unlawful means: fix a prizefight; fix a jury.

As usual, anytime I read something this stunningly stupid, I am left with questions. First, how the hell did 88 senators think this was good enough to pass without, oh, I don’t know, offsetting US$50 billion?? When was the last time 88 senators agreed on anything? This alone should have set off warning lights! And my penultimate question, where were the other seven? Because when the senate is voting on a bill that is going to leave a $50 billion question mark, I want my representative there (alas, mine was there…bang up job, Sparky).

Since it is so easy in this case, I would like to give a hearty pat on the back to the following: Carper (D-DE), Conrad (D-ND), Dorgan (D-ND), Feingold (D-WI), and Whitehouse (D-RI). The five outstanding legislators who thought enough to say, “Nay”.

Who are the seven no-shows, you ask. We have some familiar names that seemingly have other, more important matters, to attend to. (Are they still being paid?) Biden (D-DE), Clinton (D-NY), Dodd (D-CT), McCain (R-AZ), Obama (D-IL), and Voinovich (R-OH).
Even athletes have to show-up to be paid their insane amounts of money…

Ribbit