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Y! MyWebHere's why you really should be mad at Congress
> Should we be mad at Congress?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
WASHINGTON — Let us, for a second, set aside the bailout, and all the negotiations that occurred in the past several days.
As a taxpayer, you should be furious that Congress has once again abrogated its duty to pass all of its appropriations bills the old-fashioned way, through the committees.
And you should be even more furious that that's become the norm, rather than the exception.
Instead, the House and Senate both last week passed a massive continuing resolution that included just three new spending bills – defense, homeland security and military construction – fortunate for the Miami Valley, which receives most of its federal funding through the defense bill. Those bills were jammed at the last minute into a bill that will keep current federal funding at its fiscal year 2008 levels.
One of Congress' key missions is setting federal spending levels and appropriating that money.
But the last time they did it the way it was supposed to be done – through the committee process, with everything complete by Oct. 1, the beginning of the fiscal year – was 1993.
Neither party deserves particular credit or blame, because both have failed in the majority to get their bills done. But Adam Hughes of OMB Watch, a federal funding watchdog, said this year was striking in that the Democrats didn't appear to try to finish bills, because they were reluctant to negotiate spending levels with President Bush.
"I'm not sure they've really given it the old college try," he said.
The process was set up so that every year Congress could reassess spending priorities based on things such as inflation, changing economic conditions and population growth.
Instead, we pass bills with last year's levels. Bulky programs that should be cut remain, and programs that need more money are cash-starved, Hughes said.
Behind the scenes, our local lawmakers are chafed about this, too.
Rep. David Hobson, R-Springfield, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, is retiring this year.
He thinks it's Congress, and not the system, that's broken.
"We should do our work and do our work so we can see it," he said.
Jessica Towhey, a spokeswoman for House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester, said her boss is also frustrated that the American taxpayers don't have an opportunity to see how their money is being spent.
And Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, said if a state or city failed to finish its work the way Congress has failed to do its work, they'd all be tossed out of office.
"The bottom line is we haven't been self-disciplined here to do the job that needs to be done," he said.
He said in recent years, Senate leaders have worried about legislative issues being tacked to funding bills, and have become reluctant to move them through the Senate.
It's to the taxpayer's detriment, he said.
"There's got to be enough hell raised by the American people saying, 'get your work done,' that we get it done," he said.
Comments
By Found a solution
September 30, 2008 1:57 AM | Link to this
I figured out who to vote for, the one who makes the least idiotic comments and moves. So far Gus Hall is ahead!!!
By Sunshine
September 30, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this
I wish I didn’t hate the cold and snow because I’d like to move to Canada.
By TKidding
September 29, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
This is nothing more than to many greedy pigs running the 3 branches of government Real Estate / Bankers branch thought they could make more money by giving everyone loans while Oil / Energy branch said cool we can jack up the price of oil and energy and the third branch that is manufacturing said screw all of you we want slave labor so they moved all the jobs to China and Mexico . So now the other to branches are just going to take what they consider to be theirs anyway. I love Corp. America
By steve
September 29, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
Yes we should be mad at congress and I agree that both sides of the aisle are guilty of being in bed with bad lobbyist. I agree 100% that if you can’t afford something don’t buy it. Too many people live far beyond what they can afford and they do it to keep up with the jones and smith’s and who evers. We as a nation must learn to be fiscally prudent. Buy what you can afford. Both parties need thrown out and we need to start fresh. How bout a revolution!
By steve
September 29, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
Hey painfullidiot… with all the money you espout to have and the jets and corporations and all don’t you have something better to do with your time then mess with all us low brows. I love how you label people instead of engaging in true debate.. your a v****a.. go get a life would ya. The post never said word one about loan default or anything yet in true republican form you stoop to name calling and labeling.. what a loser… go buy a prostitute would ya.. I think it’d do you some good.
By painfultruth
September 29, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
Daja-voodoo, Your problem is you’re one of the low-life losers that took out a loan you knew you couldn’t pay back. Personal responsibility is the problem here, not the free market!
By NoUseForAName
September 29, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
Ironically Bush is going to go down as one of the most socialist presidents we’ve had what with the government having to seize control of all these companies.
Voting for democrat figurehead A or republican figurehead B won’t change anything. If you really want change, vote Bob Barr.
By Cynical
September 29, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
Not all of Congress are losers and some are there to really help the common people. Yes, we voted them in, but at least they had the guts to run for a political position. We love to complain and expect others to do our willing. Thank goodness we don’t have an autocratic society
By Buckeye Bob
September 29, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
The core root of the problem is simple, people voting on a partisan basis only for generations. Does any registered Democrat really believe their party has always had a monopoly on the best candidates? Why should any Republican continue to vote the same empty suits back to congress as well? Thomas Jefferson expressed concern about the future of our democracy because of his fear of an ignorant electorate. Stop being a door knob as well as voting like your great great grand daddy voted.
By Cynical
September 29, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
I can understand Big G cynical view on politics and he is allowed to express his views. At least he is register to vote and with that has the right to complain about his point of view on politics. You don’t need to take a civics class to realize the stupidity of who is right and wrong or who the finger should be pointed at. Let’s bring back the popular vote and stop the electoral voting system. Bush would have lost the first election and we would be commenting on something else today.
By conservativeone
September 29, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
Again, absolutely! And I also absolutely agree Big G could use some anger management classes.
Thank goodness he’s not bashing Obama for Obama might just come after him trying to stop the bashing by screaming “that’s not fair!”
By CONNIE
September 29, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Yes the poor will benefit when Obama gets in. they will not have to work but will own a home, car and anything else theu want. I who works 40 hrs at week or more and still can’t afford to buy me a house. And to know that the Democratic Congress has sat on their fatass and done nothing because they are waiting for Obama to come into the Presidential office is bullcrap. Everyone needs to look in the mirror because we are all guilty of choosing these losers. Enough is Enough.
By conservativeone
September 29, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Oh Big G, darlin - you need to take some Civic’s classes, then read some books.
You obviously don’t have a clue what politics are all about.
By Les
September 29, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
It’s time to forget if we are democrats or republicans and vote for no more incumbents. that’s the only way to stop this madness we call our government.
By Big G.
September 29, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
And just for the record, I AM a registered and active voter who sides with no party in particular. Once again, I vote for that “best set of lies” that I can live with.
By Big G.
September 29, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
If there was ever a president in the history of America that deserves Impeachment, it is this THING we call George W. Bush!!! Then, after he’s impeached, he should be stripped of all future benefits a DESERVING president should get that us taxpayers have to pay for for the rest of his life. If “W” deserves anything, it’s to be held accountable and punished for the raping of this fine country and the position he has so unabashedly disgraced!!!
By Daja-voodoo
September 29, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
Oh, Painfultruth. How quickly and easily you omit and forget and ignore. Your republackan friends had complete control for six years. Your psuedo-god reagan began the deregulation process, assuring that the free market knows best. Phil Gramm, another of your holy-body snuck in a 260 page ‘Commidity Modernization Act’ just before Christmas in 1999. You must find blame with a Democrat while ignoring your own complicity.
By Big G.
September 29, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
And by the way, I just love how everyone wants to blame the democrats when, lest we forget, we have a big piece of fecal matter for a president who bullied his way into office, not once but twice, with his practice of lies & deception. His 1st presidential action was to double his own salary. And then, all of a sudden, natural gas prices damn near doubled! I remember, and you should too, when my gas bill was $120.00 one month and then just the very next month it was $220.00. REMEMBER!!!
By Big G.
September 29, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
It really doesn’t matter which side of the political fence you are on, they are all a bunch of liars! People vote for who they feel tells the lies that they can live with. If you take the word “politics” and break it down in it’s latin roots, poli means “many”, and tics means “blood sucking creatures”. And since money seems to be the life-blood of this world, it only seems fitting that they all want to suck us dry of it. Just something to think about people.
By Hopeful
September 29, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
Democrats might control the house and senate, but we have a Republican President that will use his veto power on any new bills. Bush wants the 700 billion bail out so much that he will sign the bill with any other earmarks attached to it. The system is broken and that is why we need a Democratic President for change to get something done if the house and senate is control by the Democrats. These problems started a long time ago with deregulation in the 1970s. It was a great concept in the 70s (Nixon-Rep., Ford-Rep, Carter-Dem), but failed to have any oversight to protect the American taxpayer. The rich became richer and has relied on Feds to bail them out. All I can say is I mad as hell!!! The little stimulus tax refund Bush gave us will only be absorbed back into the system by the next President and either candidate is going to have to raise taxes. I hope the next think tanks for D.C. can come up with a solution between deregulation and regulation. After all…deregulation was only a theory by Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich von Hayek, and Milton Friedman in the beginning and proven to be a disaster in the end.
By Dave Mosher
September 29, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
I’m afraid I must agree with painful truth on his post…It’s a Democrat controlled congress, their approval rating hasn’t been above 18% for a lot of this term, and it was the voters who put them where they are at…A family member referred to them the other day as the DEMOCRAPS…how appropriate when they could have prevented the mess we are in now.
By Just Truth
September 29, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
There is not one party that deserves blame for this mess…the whole Government from Bush and his Administration straight down to our House members are to blame for relaxing the standards that banks could use to loan(by the way, that started long before the current Congress came in session). Continuing to point fingers at one party just blurs the problem. We get it, your Republicans. It’s time people start looking at the people we elect based on their leadership, not just their political party.
By truth
September 29, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Democrats in 1977 with the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 under Carter. Clinton in 1995 with adjustments to the program for the worse. And a Democratic Congress now. That is who is directly responsible for the housing crisis we are in now. Good job Democrats, what are you going to screw up next?
By Trish
September 29, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
How about seizing the personal assets of the people who made millions off giving mortgages to people who they knew couldn’t afford them? I hate the idea of taxpayers who really aren’t responsible carrying the burden. There is no easy solution. And I agree with Pollie - this was caused by GREED.
By conservativeone
September 29, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
Absolutely!!!!!!!
By Pollie
September 29, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this
GREED is what runs this country these days. There’s plenty of it in Washington and on Wall Street.
By daniel
September 29, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
after all this crap bailing the people that couldnt afford the houses in the first place they are still giving money to the group acorn which is a joke and corrupt group!!!! they should get nothing and after the gov. bails them out they still cant pay the house loan!! and if you thing the gov. is going to throw all the blacks out of there houses your as nuts as the ones bailing them out!!!!!!
By Randy
September 29, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
C’mon Jason. It wasn’t lower income people defaulting on their 60 thousand dollar houses that caused this. It was people earning good money who decided to live above their means by having 2 or more mortgages. It was also the real estate speculators who decided to buy a couple condos for a cool half a mill and then saw the bottom fall out. Sure the red line loans were a problem but it was not the bulk of the problem.
By POTO
September 29, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
Learn the truth:
http://market-ticker.denninger.net/
By POTO
September 29, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
The reason why everyone should be mad at CONgress, the DemoRATs and RepuliRATS is because they are the true welfare queens of society. It is time they get out of our wallets and fend for themselves. Enough is enough! It isn’t about homeowners, it isn’t about one party over another. It is ALL of them in D.C. They are destroying this country and if anyone thinks this bailout joke is going to help them, forget it! It is to help the fatcats on Wall Street.
By Jason
September 29, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
Well said, painful truth… The democratic congress forced banks to loan to people who couldn’t afford a house. Then those people bought $250,000 houses. Then they defaulted. Who didn’t see that coming?
By You peopele suck!
September 29, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
People over bought and now they cant pay thier house payment! WHO CARES! Your a@@ should fail! Im tired of people sucking off of society!
By painfultruth
September 29, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this
Just remember that DEMOCRATS control congress! You fools elected them, and they have done NOTHING! Congratulations for being such gullible fools!
By Iraqi
September 29, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this
Lets give more money to the poor. They sure have earned it.