The anti-truth squad: Congressional Edition

The following congresspeople have lied through their teeth regarding Congress's "Terri Law" (mind you - some of the links are PDFs and some are Word docs):

- Sen. Rick Santorum (PA): "What the statute that [Whittemore] was dealing with said was that he shall hold a trial de novo."

This is total bullshit. The law only enabled the judge to consider violations of federal law. A first-year law student could tell there were none.

- Rep. Mark Souder (IN): "This Act aims to ensure that a proper diagnosis can be made and that the wishes of Terri and her family are truly being followed."

The law only allows for rehearing of federal claims. There's nothin' in it about diagnoses, and certainly nothin' in it about following the wishes of the family.

- Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX): "The latest House bill to protect Terri's life gives her parents the eligibility to bring a suit in federal district court...[and] calls for the feeding tube to be reinserted until such a hearing can take place."

This one is just weird; it really doesn't bear any discernible relationship to reality.

- Rep. Mark Green (R-WI) - "U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-Green Bay) issued the following statement Monday morning on his vote in favor of legislation that would, in effect, save the life of Terri Schiavo by requiring her feeding tube be reconnected."

Again, no relationship to reality whatsoever. You have to wonder why he'd say something like this. I know congresspeople are busy and don't read their own laws, but one would expect that they'd understand the general contours, if only so they don't look like functional illiterates when releasing public statements.