The Line Item Budget Proposal

Let’s face it, our elected representatives have lost touch with the people they are hired to represent. (That’s us) But to be fair, many people in this country are enablers in this problem. Everyone would like to have something for nothing, look at the rise in state lotteries if you don’t believe me. What about the flood of casinos across the nation? Everyone seems to want a quick trip to Richville.

Our Constitution requires that a record of Congressional Activity be maintained and bound so that things are on record. Things aren’t being done behind closed doors so to speak. That is the reason we have the Congressional Record published daily whenever Congress is in session. This information is available bound, by subscription, but it is also available on line. Unfortunately, it is written in Congress-Speak, making it very difficult for the average citizen to wade through and make sense of.

Take the budget for instance. The current budget is around 3,500 pages long, and is loaded with many things that are required to keep a government running, and the military operating in an efficient manner. There are billions, yes billions of dollars though that are being spent for things that have no impact on running the Federal Government. Things of unquestionable importance like bike trails in Minnesota, Postal Museums in Las Vegas, rodent control in Alaska. Certainly these are all things that are big concerns to the mainstream of America, things which would cause devastation were they not included.

Earmarks are going to drive this country to the poorhouse. Why not put these items in a spreadsheet format showing the basic use of the money along with the amount of money being earmarked for the project. Publish these, along with the names of the Legislator who is proposing such a project and post this, on the internet and the Congressional Record so that we the people can see exactly where our money is being spent. Ideally, in time to allow the ire of the American people to rise up against Washington before they are tacked onto legislation, but spelled out clearly exactly what is going on, and how much it is costing us.

Personally, I live in Arkansas, and I have absolutely no interest in a bike trail in Minnesota, especially one that is costing me somewhere in the neighborhood of $700,000,000 to build. Yes, that is $700 MILLION . . . for a BICYCLE TRAIL! I think that if the people of Minnesota need such a trail, they should raise the money themselves and build it, but don’t steal money out of my pocket so you can ride your bike in Minnesota.

Likewise, why would I be concerned enough to spend $103 Million in order to control rodents in Alaska? Doesn’t Terminix have an office up there? Don’t private citizens have the funds to keep roaches and mice out of their homes? Someone needs to explain to me why I should subsidize this project.

A postal museum in Las Vegas? There is enough money in Vegas to build one if there is a need, and if there isn’t a need, don’t ask me to build it or maintain it for you. These are just a few of the unbelievable projects that are included in our new budget.

President Bush should veto this bill unless all of these earmarks are stripped out, but he won’t. Congress should give the President a line-item veto in order to allow him to strip out this garbage himself, but they won’t. Personally, I am fed up with sending my money to Washington just to have it wasted on this trash that is of no concern to me. We, as a people need to take a stand and demand this waste stop! NOW!

Harry Reid Senate Moronity Leader

Senator Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader has made a fool of himself, again. This week he is attempting to get the DREAM act through the Senate, the American People have said NO to this idea of amnesty every time it has come up, yet Harry seems to have too much hair in his ears and can’t hear.

Now he is blaming the raging wildfires in California on Global Warming, and denying it in almost the same breath.

“One reason why we have the fires in California is global warming,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters Tuesday, stressing the need to pass the Democrats’ comprehensive energy package.Moments later, when asked by a reporter if he really believed global warming caused the fires, he appeared to back away from his comments, saying there are many factors that contributed to the disaster.

Rush Limbaugh played a sound byte today with Harry Reid stating that he did not say that. Poor Harry, senility kinda sneaks up on you doesn’t it?

Smearing private citizens, deafness to constituents, inability to see progress in Iraq when the violence is 70% less than before the troop surge. This man is more of a danger than a leader.

Bonnie Baby Bonds

We’re saved! Hillary has come up with a plan to save our children! Let’s give every baby a $5,000.00 bond for college! I’m sure that all of the people out here who don’t have any children will be happy to pony up their share in order to make sure that little Johnny has $5 grand when he gets ready for college.

Hmmm, wait a minute, there might be some other benefit to collecting taxes from everyone for these bonds, this money will have to be placed in an interest bearing account somewhere or otherwise placed where the government can’t spend it. . .sort of like Social Security. I suppose it is merely a coincidence that this comes at about the same time that the Social Security fund is expected to go broke.

As Ronald Reagan said,

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are I’m from the government and I’m here to help.

Beware!

Congress: a definition of sorts

Congress. I looked it up on Dictionary.Com and these are the definitions that came up:

1. (initial capital letter)

a. the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house, as a continuous institution.

b. this body as it exists for a period of two years during which it has the same membership: the 96^th Congress.

c. a session of this body: to speak in Congress

2. the national legislative body of a nation, esp. of a republic

3. a formal meeting or assembly of representatives for the discussion, arrangement of promotion of some matter of common interest

4. the act of coming together, an encounter, meeting

5. an association, esp. one composed of representatives of various organizations.

6. familiar relations; dealings; intercourse.

7. coitus; sexual intercourse

–verb (used without object)

8. to assemble together; meet in congress.

While the common usage is the first definition, it is beginning to feel to me that the 7^th definition is the one in practice.

June 2007, the American People made a loud statement that we did not want to give amnesty to the millions of illegal aliens in this country. Congress listened! They said no to cloture. Then they went on vacation. As soon as they got back from vacation they decided to see if they could do it again, and dreamt up the dream amendment.

Do they not listen or just don’t care? At this point it is hard to tell. I received a lengthy missive from one of my Senators bemoaning the fact that it would take over 100 years to deport the aliens we now have in our country illegally, so instead of getting started with a tough job, let’s just let them stay. It has gotten ridiculous.