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The Washington Times has an interesting article
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/4/congress-fast-tracks-bills-loaded-with-special-int/
Congress fast-tracks bills loaded with special interest projects in year-end rush
Tucked inside the massive defense policy bill now pending on Capitol Hill is a rewrite of terrorist watch lists, a host of new national park sites and a land deal that American Indians say threatens to destroy ancient burial grounds.
Meanwhile, several tax break bills speeding through Congress renew a controversial credit for wind turbines and end Medicare’s program to pay for penis pumps for senior citizens suffering erectile dysfunction.
Lawmakers were in year-end mode, looking to clear up business and clear out of Washington well before Christmas, dropping the curtain on what’s been a singularly unproductive Congress.
Do you feel that the practice of attaching totally unrelated items to legislation which "must pass" - especially where you know that those unrelated items don't stand a ghost of a chance of being approved if submitted independently is the best way to govern?
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/4/congress-fast-tracks-bills-loaded-with-special-int/
Congress fast-tracks bills loaded with special interest projects in year-end rush
Tucked inside the massive defense policy bill now pending on Capitol Hill is a rewrite of terrorist watch lists, a host of new national park sites and a land deal that American Indians say threatens to destroy ancient burial grounds.
Meanwhile, several tax break bills speeding through Congress renew a controversial credit for wind turbines and end Medicare’s program to pay for penis pumps for senior citizens suffering erectile dysfunction.
Lawmakers were in year-end mode, looking to clear up business and clear out of Washington well before Christmas, dropping the curtain on what’s been a singularly unproductive Congress.
Do you feel that the practice of attaching totally unrelated items to legislation which "must pass" - especially where you know that those unrelated items don't stand a ghost of a chance of being approved if submitted independently is the best way to govern?
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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Bacon is awesome!!! So are pork chops, when marinated correctly (my wife makes great pork chops) and hams.
Okay, on a serious note...wait, the above IS serious.
Okay, really, on a serious note...
Pork, as used in the vernacular of legislation, is most definitely NOT a good thing. Regardless of who it may possibly positively benefit, it is theft of the people's money and an abuse of the taxpayers' trust.
Okay, on a serious note...wait, the above IS serious.
Okay, really, on a serious note...
Pork, as used in the vernacular of legislation, is most definitely NOT a good thing. Regardless of who it may possibly positively benefit, it is theft of the people's money and an abuse of the taxpayers' trust.
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Sir, in direct response to your question: No, I do not feel "pork" is a good way to govern. But, that's how politicians get things done for their constituents in our broken, not-willing-to-compromise system.
It seems to work some of the time - certainly for the politicians, and sometimes for the people - so until both sides are really ready to sit down and give a little (compromise for the good of the country), this may be the best we can expect.
It seems to work some of the time - certainly for the politicians, and sometimes for the people - so until both sides are really ready to sit down and give a little (compromise for the good of the country), this may be the best we can expect.
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COL Ted Mc
Many countries us a legislative system where the only things allowed to be attached to legislation are things that are directly related to that legislation.
This prevents legislation such as (and I know that this is a silly example) "The salary of the Honourable Representative from Upper East Hogswaller, Billy-Bob Goodfeller, is hereby increased to $10,000,000 a month for a guaranteed period of 100 years." being attached to legislation which actually does have to be passed (and where good ol' Billy Bob has the deciding vote).
All of the other "miscellaneous spending" legislation then gets put into "Omnibus Bills" - which are eagerly devoured by opposition politicians and the media to see who is trying to scam what out of which part of the system for their own personal benefit.
"Buying votes" is (just barely) too strong a term to use for the way that "riders" and "tied spending" have degenerated.
Now, since NEITHER the Republicans nor the Democrats appear to be willing to work with the other in the best interests of the country, isn't it time to give serious consideration to someone other than the Republicans or the Democrats (and I don't mean the T.E.A. Party because it isn't willing to work with either the Republicans or the Democrats)?
Now that the 2016 Presidential Election Campaign has started, my inclination is to tell all pollsters that I intend to ignore party affiliation completely and vote for the candidate who appears to be the most intelligent, most knowledgeable, and most willing to give serious consideration for the issues which affect the country as a whole regardless of any partisan political benefit/loss that might accrue to the candidate (and then to refuse to identify which candidate I think that that might be). This - if enough people do it - should scare the crap out of those who run the political machines of both the Republican and the Democrat parties.
This prevents legislation such as (and I know that this is a silly example) "The salary of the Honourable Representative from Upper East Hogswaller, Billy-Bob Goodfeller, is hereby increased to $10,000,000 a month for a guaranteed period of 100 years." being attached to legislation which actually does have to be passed (and where good ol' Billy Bob has the deciding vote).
All of the other "miscellaneous spending" legislation then gets put into "Omnibus Bills" - which are eagerly devoured by opposition politicians and the media to see who is trying to scam what out of which part of the system for their own personal benefit.
"Buying votes" is (just barely) too strong a term to use for the way that "riders" and "tied spending" have degenerated.
Now, since NEITHER the Republicans nor the Democrats appear to be willing to work with the other in the best interests of the country, isn't it time to give serious consideration to someone other than the Republicans or the Democrats (and I don't mean the T.E.A. Party because it isn't willing to work with either the Republicans or the Democrats)?
Now that the 2016 Presidential Election Campaign has started, my inclination is to tell all pollsters that I intend to ignore party affiliation completely and vote for the candidate who appears to be the most intelligent, most knowledgeable, and most willing to give serious consideration for the issues which affect the country as a whole regardless of any partisan political benefit/loss that might accrue to the candidate (and then to refuse to identify which candidate I think that that might be). This - if enough people do it - should scare the crap out of those who run the political machines of both the Republican and the Democrat parties.
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CW5 (Join to see)
All good points, sir. I especially like the end of your post about polls and the best qualified candidates. The problem is that most Americans, sadly, are not willing to put that much thought into voting. Heck, 40-50% are not even willing to vote.
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I hate when they add stuff to a bill that has nothing to do with it. Because if you find out what in it and it has nothing to do with the bill you vote it down then they make you look like you don't care on a veterans bill. But what they don't say is he/she voted it down because mixed into it was a bill that would pardon charles manson. I know far fetched but it is just an example.
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COL Ted Mc
It may be "far fetched", but it isn't outside the realm of possibility.
Some of those "riders" are the only way that some politicians can get the things which will help them get re-elected passed - because no one in their right mind would vote for those things if it was an independent piece of legislation.
Some of those "riders" are the only way that some politicians can get the things which will help them get re-elected passed - because no one in their right mind would vote for those things if it was an independent piece of legislation.
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