With their last breath, they scream FU to the American People.
The omnibus spending bill offered by the Democrats today is. . .you guessed it. . .a surprise 2,000 pages long with a price tag of almost 600 million per page! A total of 1.1 Trillion.
Loaded with pork, they have opted again not to release the bill until the 11th hour.
The "You have to pass it to see what's in it" strategy rears it's ugly head again.
Just like last year at this time, there is no time for analysis before the vote is due. No one had any idea they had this tucked away. Failure to pass the bill is not an option because vital funding for government into the new year is on the line.
I guess, just like Obamacare, we will have to fix the damage later, if we can.
If you would like to read it, you may:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr3082eah/pdf/BILLS-111hr3082eah.pdf
In 4 days it went from 423 pages that most everyone agreed on to almost 2,000 pages of unedited crap.
They are poisoning the wells, salting the earth, and wiping excrement on the walls.
How does this make you feel?
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr3082eah/pdf/BILLS-111hr3082eah.pdf (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr3082eah/pdf/BILLS-111hr3082eah.pdf)
I must be mis-reading that.
Here's Allahpundit's take on the bill with a link to Senator Coburn's thoughts. Say what you will about Coburn, but he is a deficit hawk.
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/12/14/a-total-mess-gop-in-revolt-against-massive-new-1-1-trillion-spending-bill/
Congress is supposed to pass 12 individual spending bills by the beginning of the fiscal year in October, but once again didn't. This wraps the 12 spending bills into one.
I thought you would like that the spending bill also freezes the salaries of nondefense federal employees through 2013.
Quote from: RecycleMichael on December 14, 2010, 05:11:34 PM
Congress is supposed to pass 12 individual spending bills by the beginning of the fiscal year in October, but once again didn't. This wraps the 12 spending bills into one.
I thought you would like that the spending bill also freezes the salaries of nondefense federal employees through 2013.
Mine has been frozen for the last three, and probably will for another three, I say welcome to the club to them.
This type of deal is not the sole perview of one party only. I remember the Republicans sneaking in things at the last minute as well. So I think its better to say our politicians or House and Senate has done this again, not "The Democrats did it.". If we don't want this to happen, we are going to have to do something about the way the House and Senate works.
Quote from: RecycleMichael on December 14, 2010, 05:11:34 PM
Congress is supposed to pass 12 individual spending bills by the beginning of the fiscal year in October, but once again didn't. This wraps the 12 spending bills into one.
I thought you would like that the spending bill also freezes the salaries of nondefense federal employees through 2013.
Not exactly, it only freezes COLA increases. They still get their automatic step increases within their GS grade.
Quote from: TheArtist on December 14, 2010, 06:04:51 PM
This type of deal is not the sole perview of one party only. I remember the Republicans sneaking in things at the last minute as well. So I think its better to say our politicians or House and Senate has done this again, not "The Democrats did it.". If we don't want this to happen, we are going to have to do something about the way the House and Senate works.
There is repub pork in this bill.
Quote from: guido911 on December 14, 2010, 07:04:40 PM
There is repub pork in this bill.
Gee...I wonder if Obama and the democrats worked with republicans and put in some pork projects for bi-partisan support of the tax bill from a few days ago...
Quote from: RecycleMichael on December 14, 2010, 09:03:29 PM
Gee...I wonder if Obama and the democrats worked with republicans and put in some pork projects for bi-partisan support of the tax bill from a few days ago...
Probably a large, well cured Virginia Ham.
Quote from: Gaspar on December 14, 2010, 04:51:24 PM
In 4 days it went from 423 pages that most everyone agreed on to almost 2,000 pages of unedited crap.
They are poisoning the wells, salting the earth, and wiping excrement on the walls.
How does this make you feel?
Unfortunately, about like always.
Quote from: RecycleMichael on December 14, 2010, 09:03:29 PM
Gee...I wonder if Obama and the democrats worked with republicans and put in some pork projects for bi-partisan support of the tax bill from a few days ago...
Perhaps, although Senators like Kit Bond (Mo.) and Bennett (Utah) are going away and their pork projects might just be their last chance.
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 14, 2010, 09:23:53 PM
Probably a large, well cured Virginia Ham.
Well-played
It's a big bag of shlt and it stinketh
Quote from: guido911 on December 14, 2010, 07:04:40 PM
There is repub pork in this bill.
Yes it existed in the original 400+ page bill. The bill that everyone hoped would be hashed out and passed before the holidays.
Quote from: TheArtist on December 14, 2010, 06:04:51 PM
This type of deal is not the sole perview of one party only. I remember the Republicans sneaking in things at the last minute as well. So I think its better to say our politicians or House and Senate has done this again, not "The Democrats did it.". If we don't want this to happen, we are going to have to do something about the way the House and Senate works.
Correct. A few things here and a few things there, and the Democrats blew their stacks about how "unethical" it was to insert pork at the last moment. During the Clinton years we heard the word "unethical" applied to this practice many times. Now, not only are the Democrats applying the same, but they've taken it to a whole new level.
The "Christmas Present" strategy will most certainly force a change in how bills may be introduced. I don't really care what party is doing it. It's wrong, and beyond anyone's ability to rationalize or justify.
6,488 EARMARKS A new record!
Reporters Jump Senators For Perceived Earmark Hypocrisy
http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2010/12/15/132083977/reporters-jump-senators-for-perceived-earmark-hypocrisy?ft=1&f=1001&sc=tw&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter (http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2010/12/15/132083977/reporters-jump-senators-for-perceived-earmark-hypocrisy?ft=1&f=1001&sc=tw&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)
So if I understand correctly, Thune and Cornyn didn't remove earmarks from this pile, but they are going to vote against the bill even though it's got millions in earmarks they requested.
Wow! The arrogance of these guys is stunning. They learned nothing from midterm '10 other than they need to get the lip service out there.
Quote from: Conan71 on December 15, 2010, 03:46:30 PM
So if I understand correctly, Thune and Cornyn didn't remove earmarks from this pile, but they are going to vote against the bill even though it's got millions in earmarks they requested.
Wow! The arrogance of these guys is stunning. They learned nothing from midterm '10 other than they need to get the lip service out there.
They want to leave them in so they can get them but still tell everyone they voted agin'it.
We've elected some specials folk...
QuoteSenators Stage Partisan Fight Over True Meaning Of Christmas
http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2010/12/15/132086785/senators-partisan-fight-over-true-meaning-of-christmas#more (http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2010/12/15/132086785/senators-partisan-fight-over-true-meaning-of-christmas#more)
And people wonder why I wanted to move to New Zealand 5 or 6 years ago.
Quote from: dbacks fan on December 15, 2010, 04:51:25 PM
And people wonder why I wanted to move to New Zealand 5 or 6 years ago.
The BVI's are my escape route 8)
$4.6 M to dredge 6 ft out of Savannah River to make it easier for large cargo ships to get under the bridge and into the harbor. . .3.6 million of it is for the environmental impact study. :D
Belize looks pretty good, too.
Thank you sir, may I have another.
Quote from: TulsaMoon on December 16, 2010, 08:54:51 AM
Thank you sir, may I have another.
Ok. . .here's an award winner!
(http://thumbnails.truveo.com/0014/F9/83/F983C7190E0FA0BA878890_Large.jpg)
Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) proposed a $48 BILLION EARMARK that would redistribute wealth to the inner cities and gift money to the poor and thereby produce a much larger consumer class to buy the goods and services produced in this country.
The $48 billion would go to Cleaver's friend, a gentleman named Lamar Mickens, president of a non profit organization called the "Quality Day Campus." The "Quality Day Campus" is registered as a Daycare Center that Mr. Mickens and his wife Cynthia operate out of their home! :D
Quote from: Gaspar on December 16, 2010, 09:08:41 AM
Ok. . .here's an award winner!
(http://thumbnails.truveo.com/0014/F9/83/F983C7190E0FA0BA878890_Large.jpg)
Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) proposed a $48 BILLION EARMARK that would redistribute wealth to the inner cities and gift money to the poor and thereby produce a much larger consumer class to buy the goods and services produced in this country.
The $48 billion would go to Cleaver's friend, a gentleman named Lamar Mickens, president of a non profit organization called the "Quality Day Campus." The "Quality Day Campus" is registered as a Daycare Center that Mr. Mickens and his wife Cynthia operate out of their home! :D
Linky?
Quote from: Gaspar on December 16, 2010, 07:59:16 AM
$4.6 M to dredge 6 ft out of Savannah River to make it easier for large cargo ships to get under the bridge and into the harbor. . .3.6 million of it is for the environmental impact study. :D
And I have driven past the $90,000 sidewalk in Boynton, Ok. paid for with stimulus funds. There's nothing else in that town other than run-down houses, but they sure got a nice sidewalk that leads to nothing.
Here's a few losers from this years lard-fest (culled from various sources):
• $1 million for AFL-CIO training programs, requested by Sen. Tom Harkin (D., Iowa).
• $307,000 for research on small fruits, requested by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D., Oregon), Norm Dicks (D., Wash.), Rick Larsen (D., Wash.), Kurt Schrader (D., Oregon), and David Wu (D., Oregon) and Sens. Maria Cantwell (D., Wash.), Mike Crapo (R., Idaho), Jeff Merkley (D., Oregon), Patty Murray (D., Wash.), James Risch (R., Idaho), and Ron Wyden (D., Oregon).
• $350,000 for Cool Season Legume Research, which would fund studies on what diseases harm and what improvements could help crops such as lentils and beans, requested by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D., Wash.) Kent Conrad (D., N.D.), Bryon Dorgan (D., N.D.) and Patty Murray (D., Wash.) and Reps. Norm Dicks (D., Wash.) and Earl Pomeroy (D., N.D.).
• $165,000 for maple research in Vermont, to further delve into the quality and food safety of syrup and to consider how current production methods affect tree health, requested by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vermont).
• $1 million for arthropod damage control, requested by Sen. Harry Reid (D., Nev.).
• $40 million for a National Bio and Agro-defense facility in Kansas, requested by Sen. Sam Brownback (R., Kansas).
• Montana earmark for $300,000 to the Center for Asbestos Related Disease
• Declares Nevada a "Pacific Coast state" so it can get in on a few million dollars to protect salmon. :o
• Funding for a study for a race-based "Native Hawaiian" government
• $400,000 to commemorate the1959 visit of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to Iowa. The money would be used to build the Khrushchev in Iowa trail for bikers and hikers.
• McConnell's earmarks include $650,000 in taxpayer money to advance genetic technologies, $1 million for a blood center building and $4 million for marijuana eradication.
• $208,000 for management of beavers
• $94,000 for management of blackbirds
• $277,000 for management potato pests
• $235,000 for management of noxious weeds
• $500,000 for oyster safety
• $247,000 for virus-free wine grapes
• $522,000 for cranberry and blueberry disease
Here's the winner in my books, $10mm to honor the memory of the unindicted co-conspirator in the ab-scam scandal:
"One big earmark worth mentioning comes from five Democrats: Pennsylvania Rep. Robert Brady, Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Critz, Pennsylvania Rep. Chaka Fattah, Virginia Rep. Jim Moran and Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan. They're spending $10 million of taxpayer money to honor the memory of their controversial colleague, the late Rep. John Murtha.
"Who was the king of earmarks, according to many people, and a big defender of the earmark process, so it's ironic a memorial foundation in his name is getting funded through earmarks," Alexander said."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/15/eveningnews/main7153980.shtml
Quote from: Townsend on December 16, 2010, 09:12:18 AM
Linky?
Here's something.
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1687936.html
Quote from: Townsend on December 16, 2010, 09:12:18 AM
Linky?
It's all over the news:
Heard it first on KRMG
http://mopns.com/2010/12/10/cleaver-asks-for-48-billion-earmark-for-mystery-project-seriously/
http://www.redstate.com/barrypopik/2010/12/16/liberal-media-watch-emanuel-cleaver-who-48-billion-earmark-what-i-cant-hear-you-la-la-la-la/
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1687936.html
This is the funniest. . .This is from the House website, listing all of Mr Cleaver's earmarks. Scroll to the bottom. The column wasn't large enough to display the number! :D
http://www.house.gov/cleaver/pdf/earmarks.pdf
Oh you Libs, God bless you!
Quote from: guido911 on December 16, 2010, 09:22:49 AM
Here's something.
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1687936.html
QuoteCurrently Mickens operates this massive proposal out of his home but with Cleaver's help, this earmark could put him on the road to success.
I like that it says "It could".
Remember, this is only phase one. Who knows how far he could go?
We're told we vote these folks in.
Quote from: Gaspar on December 16, 2010, 09:24:11 AM
This is the funniest. . .This is from the House website, listing all of Mr Cleaver's earmarks. Scroll to the bottom. The column wasn't large enough to display the number! :D
http://www.house.gov/cleaver/pdf/earmarks.pdf
Oh you Libs, God bless you!
Holy crap, Cleaver is a true pro at this, attempting to sprinkle $200K here, $500K there, $300K up there. I love the ones that are requested for community educational programs. The funding does little more than show a lame justification to create or sustain a few government-dependent jobs.
They've been spreading the pork around high crime areas of KCMO for years and what do we have to show for it? It's still a crime-riddled shithole.
Don't worry, I'm equal opportunity, I intend to seek out some of the real winners from Republicans as well.
Quote from: Townsend on December 16, 2010, 09:26:49 AM
I like that it says "It could".
Remember, this is only phase one. Who knows how far he could go?
We're told we vote these folks in.
Mickens sounds like a
future candidate for President community organizer to me.
Cleaver's list is fascinating reading: $2.4 mm for a new exhibit at the Jazz Museum, $5mm to renovate the dilapidated "Truman" courthouse in Independence. Apparently this building does not have public restrooms, a working elevator, central air, and the boilers need to be replaced.
"Through the years, various entities have occupied the courthouse. Currently, however, it houses only the Jackson County Historical Society office and archives, as well as a small gift shop operated by a non-profit senior citizens organization. Much of the building is vacant or used for storage. No restrooms are open to the public, nor are any compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The courthouse has no working elevator, and there is no central air conditioning in the building.
Phase III, at estimated cost of $8 million, would also restore President Truman's office and courtroom, address foundation problems and bring the space up to commercial grade under current building codes -- all while preserving the courthouse's historical integrity.
THE FUTURE
Plans for the courthouse upon completion of the renovation would likely include a centralized Truman Visitors Center highlighting President Truman and Jackson County history, the Jackson County Historical Society and possibly a gallery featuring major pieces of local and regional art."
http://www.jacksongov.org/content/3624/default.aspx
It's a cool-looking building, but are we too sentimental to the point of our own detriment about old buildings like this with no real utilitarian purpose left in them?
There was quite a bit in Cleaver's package for flood prevention like levees and stormwater management along the Missouri River and other tributaries. I don't have such a problem with funding issues like that as they provide for the greater good of all citizens and there is a cost-prevention as well as life-protection aspect. It's one of the "expected services" of government. I do have mixed feelings about how much the Feds should be on the hook for local sanitary sewer systems, I think that should be more up to the local authorities via property and sales taxes. My reasoning is I don't see why citizens of New York City, Orlando, Tulsa, etc. should be responsible for the sanitary sewer system of Kansas City which they are essentially doing if federal dollars are used on projects like that.
Judging from the "Quality Day Campus'" MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/qualitydaycampus/friends they could use the $48 Billion to generate some friend requests, and perhaps move their operations to Facebook.
. . .and they have plans to build a spiffy new campus with the $48 Billion.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pv9Plva6OYg/TNiCvReqEmI/AAAAAAAABDs/oGjiaT6Fk98/s1600/CDC+building.jpg)
If their's any left over they should add a parking lot!
Some more digging. Lamar is a frequent poster on Mechelle Obama's facebook page and runs his own Facebook organization called "War on Poverty."
He wants the money to fund a massive commercial development called the Epicenter. 100 million square feet of new commercial, retail and residential space. He wants it to be "the worlds largest shopping center." :D :D :D
Because. . .we all know that malls fight poverty.
Quote from: Gaspar on December 16, 2010, 07:59:16 AM
$4.6 M to dredge 6 ft out of Savannah River to make it easier for large cargo ships to get under the bridge and into the harbor. . .3.6 million of it is for the environmental impact study. :D
I thought ships floated on water, not the river bottom. Getting in they should be loaded and low in the water. Getting out maybe they could take on some water to be as low as coming in. If they cannot flood some compartments, dredging won't help.
They are going to require the bill to be read on the floor. 50 hours of reading.
Of course McConnel has introduced an alternate to the 2,000 pages and 6,500 earmarks. . .a one page bill that simply keeps funding at it's current level until February 18th when a less stupid bill can be introduced.
Quote from: Gaspar on December 16, 2010, 03:53:55 PM
...until February 18th when a less stupid bill can be introduced.
You really believe that?
Quote from: Townsend on December 16, 2010, 03:55:35 PM
You really believe that?
Not normally but after the introduction of this pile (to borrow a term), anything is an improvement. This legislature has clearly raised the bar on stupid.
From KRMG:
"KRMG BREAKING: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid withdraws controversial $1.2 trillion spending bill, says he'll work with Republican leaders on smaller, short-term budget extension (Fox News)."
Raised the bar almost to the point where it was.
Kansas City gets a sewer. Oklahoma gets a huge bulk of the disaster relief funds from the Feds. It all evens out.
The porky Omnibus bill appears dead. Reid doesn't have the votes.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/255516/breaking-reid-caves-omnibus-andrew-stiles
Quote from: Gaspar on December 16, 2010, 04:02:38 PM
Not normally but after the introduction of this pile (to borrow a term), anything is an improvement.
Never challenge "worse".
Frustrated, I love what Harry Reid said about earmarks.
"I can't understand why some of those more conservative members here want to give up their power. I don't understand that."
Congressional approval rating 13%.......
Quote from: Breadburner on December 17, 2010, 10:20:43 AM
Congressional approval rating 13%.......
http://www.gallup.com/poll/145238/congress-job-approval-rating-worst-gallup-history.aspx (http://www.gallup.com/poll/145238/congress-job-approval-rating-worst-gallup-history.aspx)
(http://sas-origin.onstreammedia.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/s7pyxwkvskssjtqfjk4kxw.gif)
I think they cooked the books on that survey - ain't no way 13% of the people in this country can approve of Congress today! I don't believe it. 2% maybe - that's probably the overall level of lunatic fringe (except for Fox fans).