The Credit Card Congress
April 27th, 2006The fine art of pork-barrel spending is not only alive and well in today’s Washington but also being taken to great new heights by the Senators from Mississippi. Essentially, they want seven hundred million dollars to move a few train tracks a couple of miles north. It’s the largest earmark in history, and that about says it all.
In other financial Congressional news, Arlen Specter is threatening to cut funding for the NSA’s wiretapping program. Maybe Specter should take the initiative on pork-barrel spending and tell his fellow Senators that he’ll introduce expulsion motions against those who support such extravagent pork as the one mentioned earlier?
I’m surprised no one in the Congress has ever asked to expel a Congressman for spending. Such an attempt wouldn’t succeed, but it would bring attention to the issue from the public and it would lead to embarrassment for those like Ted Stevens and Trent Lott. I’m going to write my Senators and recommend this, as the fear of the public has to be instilled into the Credit Card Congress before they bankrupt us all.
April 28th, 2006 at 12:37 pm
i emailed both of my congressmen in georgia. isakson responded to me this morning. i asked him about the possible expulsion of a congressman for spending, but he dodged that question entirely. here is his response:
Dear Mr. Monache :
Thank you for contacting my office regarding congressional “pork spending.” I appreciate your thoughts on the subject and the opportunity to respond.
I share your frustration with Congressional spending on pork projects, and that is why I have consistently voted in favor of sustaining the budget points of order against amendments that exceeded budget authorization. I will continue to work for spending restraint and fiscal responsibility. I am pleased to have co-sponsored legislation that would change our appropriations process from annual to biannual, which would allow Congress to spend every odd numbered year appropriating and every even numbered year (election year) conducting oversight of spending. This would decrease the temptation to spend on projects in election years, and increase the accountability on spending restraint and fiscal discipline. I am a co-sponsor of The Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies (CARFA) Act, which implements accountability of federal spending by establishing a commission to review all federal agencies and programs, as well as make recommendations for the reorganization or elimination of duplicative and unnecessary programs.
Recently, I voted along with the majority of the Senate to pass a budget based on the fiscal guidelines set forth in the President’s budget proposal for FY07. I will continue to push for fiscal restraint throughout the appropriations process.
Thank you again for contacting me. If there is anything I can help you with in the future please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson
United States Senator
April 28th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
Perhaps you should send him a second note that says, “Senator, don’t you think it would send a strong message to the Congress if you introduced a motion to expell another Senator on the grounds of them being irresponsible with money — a motion sure to fail, but the ensuing attention might be enough to shame your peers into spending with some fiscal restraint”?
I’m going to do it, for sure. I’m interested to hear the replies I get.
April 28th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
that is what i sent him last night. i pretty much said those exact words. ill try again though, afterall the republicans are about repitition=effectiveness (re: 9/11=fear).