Obama will sign a $410 Billion spending bill to keep the federal government moving along for the rest of the year. In this bill, there are nearly 8,000 earmarks totaling about $5.5 Billion. This despite his promise to do away with such practices.
In a move that defies logic, Obama plans on using the ceremony to announce earmark reforms. His administration has stated over the last couple of weeks that this bill is a remnant of the last administration and he prefers to look forward into fixing the system. This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. This congress wrote this bill. Maybe some of the ideas were thought of last year, but that does not absolve Obama of the responsibility. He is signing the bill. This would be a perfect opportunity to show his leadership.
It is very simple. The earmarks have been identified. Tell Congress to take them out before you sign it. Believe me, you would have the people’s support in pressuring Congress. Giving a speech on earmark reform on the same day that you sign a spending bill full of them is not the responsible governing I expect from our leadership.
Outside of these earmarks, you will find increases in the same type programs that were in our recent stimulus bill. There is an increase in the food stamp program and in energy programs as well as an increase for housing vouchers for the poor. Other programs were given budget increases well above the inflation rate. The only positive I have read about in this spending bill is that it denies Congress their automatic cost of living pay raise next January. Maybe they should go a step further and take a pay cut.
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It’s just incredible what’s happening. And I wonder what percentage of his insanely self-contradictory acts are driven by his sense –well-founded– that he will not be called on the carpet for anything by a media that is a) already on his side ideologically, and b) in love with him personally.
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