An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right

« Pew Poll: Obama Widens Lead Over McCain And Gains Leadership Image

Sarah Palin In The News And In Poetry »

We Are Ungoverned

Posted by POLIMOM in Economy.
Oct 1st, 2008 | Comments

Over at my own blog this morning, I griped about what I saw as some off-topic distractions in the Senate’s version of the bail-out bill. At the time, the full breadth of the Senate’s madness hadn’t been revealed.

But it has now. From Hot Air:

New Tax earmarks in Bailout bill
- Film and Television Productions (Sec. 502)
- Wooden Arrows designed for use by children (Sec. 503)
- 6 page package of earmarks for litigants in the 1989 Exxon Valdez incident, Alaska (Sec. 504)

Tax earmark “extenders” in the bailout bill.
- Virgin Island and Puerto Rican Rum (Section 308)
- American Samoa (Sec. 309)
- Mine Rescue Teams (Sec. 310)
- Mine Safety Equipment (Sec. 311)
- Domestic Production Activities in Puerto Rico (Sec. 312)
- Indian Tribes (Sec. 314, 315)
- Railroads (Sec. 316)
- Auto Racing Tracks (317)
- District of Columbia (Sec. 322)
- Wool Research (Sec. 325)

How small the federal government seems when its business includes trivia like wooden arrows… but even more to the point, this stuff has no place in an emergency bailout bill. If this was the only vehicle the Senate could find to enable them to vote, they should have waited.

And it isn’t just conservatives who are going to find some issues. Here’s Big Tent Democrat, at Talk Left:

And the idea of giving more corporate tax breaks and suspending the Alternative Minimum Tax in the face of record deficits is absolutely outrageous. Harry Reid has produced a travesty.

This bill has something to tick everybody off. You can read it, in all its 451 pages of embarrassing glory, here. Buried somewhere in there is a bailout bill.

As bad as the financial crisis is, Congress’ full exposure as incompetent and malfunctioning is worse. They couldn’t blow out a match, much less react to a fire, and I were a foreign government or bank watching the much-vaunted US system at work, I’d be sucking my money home as fast as possible.

It couldn’t be more obvious that we are ungoverned.

Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

ChrisWWW

This kind of stuff is how coalitions in Washington are built. I used to really hate it, but now I sort of see the necessity.

Legalized bribery for the win?

Marlowecan

A great find, Polimom. Thank you.

I must say, although I have always considered myself fairly jaded, I am utterly gobsmacked by this.

A bailout bill in a time of severe global economic crisis . . . and the Senators are busy with their earmarks for Puerto Rican rum etc.

I don't know what to say. Incredible.

You have an excellent title for your post, Polimom...truly..."We are ungoverned"

Marlowecan

I suppose you are right, Chris.

I have been reading lately about the incredible work of Truman's special committee to eliminate fraud and waste in government contracts during WW II. So such petty grease should come as no surprise.

But it does. Given the incredible political and economic stakes at hand . . . the thought that someone on the Hill is focused on Wooden Arrows just seems surreal.

ChrisWWW

I keep thinking back to how Bill Frist attached that online-gambling ban to a port security bill... He used national security to ruin my online poker fun... Meanwhile, the bill carved out a special exception for horse racing.

I know it's unrelated, but it still pisses me off.

donthelibertariandemocrat

Gripe all you want if it helps you,but this is the system. As for the rest of the world, you're wrong. They know how to play our system. Don't kid yourself about that.

GeorgeSorwell

While I appreciate the truth of comments about the way the world works, I'm with Polimom on this.

They say this is a crisis, but they act as if it's business as usual.

pacatrue

I wonder if McCain favors vetoing this bill. He's said over and over that he'd veto any bill with a whiff of earmarks, no matter what.

kritt11

While the coalitions are necessary to get anything done, we also end up with bills that either have big loopholes or no teeth in them, because otherwise one side or the other would object too strongly. What we have now works very badly -- my only suggestion is to try to legislate limited contact with lobbyists right before a key vote.

I suppose they could try to reinstitute the line item veto- but that was ruled unconstitutional by SCOTUS.

Polimom

A little more about the additions they've made to this bill (from The Politico, w/ my emphasis)

"Senate leaders are confident that they can prevail, but the strategy is not without risks in the House given the added costs of the tax package. Congressional Budget Office estimates indicate that the net impact will be to add almost $105 billion to an already large deficit next year, and fiscal conservatives will feel they are being straight-armed by the Senate which has refused to do more to offset the costs.

My 12-year-old can do this level of math. They're sinking us, ever faster.

The_Master

Polimom,

You are absolutely right. This "emergency" bailout bill is becoming a massive vote buying / bribery scheme using the taxpayers' money. The oblivious can say "this is how it's always done" and they would be right. However this is an alleged worldwide emergency, not business as usual. They must act now or the world as we know it will end! No time for hearings! No time to examine less expensive, less intrusive solution options! Vote 'yes' now, or doom will be on us all!

(Wait a bit though, we can add more extraneous 'sweeteners' to help convince you--er, if you don't actually buy the end of the world bit, that is . . . .)

These people are beneath contempt. No wonder this Congress has the lowest public approval rating ever recorded. It will no doubt be lower still by election day, though still too high.

Throw them ALL out!

punditdad

I'm shocked at the level of half truths and fact twisting that I hear from everyday people who claim to have an understanding of our economy. People have had it "good" for far too long and forgotten what it's like to have high unemployment and high inflation. I suggest that everyone who is against this financial rescue plan which could end up as a net plus for the american taxpayer contact their House member with their better idea. Unfortunately, doing nothing is not an option. A few million bucks for some arrows? That's peanuts to what happens if more financial institutions collapse, people lose their life savings and end up on the unemployment line. This IS easy enough for a 12 year old to understand and the credit markets are already hurting. Again, sticking our heads in the sand or throwing out all members of Congress is not the answer.

pacatrue

Hey, McCain just voted for more earmarks!

I have not been impressed with Pelosi or Reid's leadership lately and I'm an 80% Dem. There are certainly other Democrats in the Senate who could lead better.

blog comments powered by Disqus