Didn't we ban earmarks? You wouldn't know it from the appropriations bill groaning through Congress.
Senator Tim Johnson highlights a provision that will keep the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's national fisheries archive at the D.C. Booth National Fish Hatchery and Archives and prevent the closure of any fisheries through this fiscal year.
Rep. Kristi Noem waves her pom-poms for $31 million in new spending on five water projects, including the perpetually fiscally throttled Lewis and Clark water pipeline in southeast South Dakota. She calls access to that pork an "amazing opportunity."
Senator John Thune doesn't seem to be spending big federal dollars, but he is using the appropriations bill to hand out favors to the hunting and fishing industries. Senator Thune has worked a provision into the appropriations bill to prevent the EPA from regulating lead in ammunition and fishing tackle.
And in a matter completely unrelated to federal appropriations (a non-germane amendment that would get shot down immediately if we were playing this game in Pierre, right?), both parties have agreed to create a new mechanism for private donors to fill their national committee coffers. Basically, each millionaire can now put buy another million-plus dollars' worth of influence at the national party tables.
The Booth Hatchery does good work in Spearfish on relatively little federal funding. And I suppose I shouldn't complain about piping water to my hometown so more factories can come and cool their jets. But it remains disgusting that Congress can't simply pass a basic budget without grinding it through the mill of ideological slogans and political favors.
I really don't have much heartburn with earmarks. In a world with lots of earmarks members of Congress are more apt to work together across party lines to pass a bill because everyone gets a little something out of it. There need to be protections to prevent the worst abuses but all in all the system worked.
Shouldn't we question the intent of Lewis and Clark in Madison, as perhaps it is not a means to pipe water to Madison, but rather from Madison, for meager profits for the city while depleting our own water reserves. A pipeline always goes both ways.
Wingnuts filed suit against Obie about executive actions on immigration,but this budget compromise removes that threat to the Potus. A month or two ago,executive actions by Obama were the downfall of civilization. Just another hot button issue wingnuts used for political gain. Hey,what ever happened to all those immigrant kids and ebola?
Mike, we're now past the election so immigrant kids and ebola no longer matter.
How long do you predict the shutdown will last Cory?
Shutdown? Oh, this shutdown, in which Dems are balking at the campaign finance and Wall Street goodies? Ah, you know I'm terrible at predictions. Republicans will break off. They'll pass a shorter continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown and come back when they can fight with their full majorities in January.
Ted Cruz is the peckerhead joker in the deck again. He will prolly shut down the gubmint all by hisself this time. He has threatened to do as much.
Provisions in this bill put governance almost entirely in the hands of the 1% by increasing their bribery limits 100 fold. Then to make sure that is perfectly effective, the bill takes a big chunk out of promised retirement pensions, which will especially hit unions.
A Great Deal More Money for Corporate America + much reduced union funds = (are you ready for this?) TA-DAAAA!
Wholly-owned United States of America!
Or, as Larry often says, Korporate Amerika! We have lost! The victory is Theirs!
I never realized there are so many sociopaths/psychopaths in this country, but there they are, in corner offices and federal and state offices. (I'm deliberately not using the words 'public offices' to describe most of those in DC, Pierre, etc., because the only 'public' aspect is whose money they take.
Yes, this gets more and more frightening to me.
And it passed. 57 Democrats folded like lawn chairs. Surprised?
Bill, I dearly wish I was surprised.
The whole lot must have loved them some Jamie Dimon after shave stuff. That dude must smell good like catnip or something because they gather around him like dust bunnies behind the closet door to do his bidding. We are now officially working for the banks once more while slowly slitting our throats. How long do you think before the bottom falls out of this wet sack of despair? We will soon long for the last abyss of 2008 as good times.
Yup, Wall St. Casino is back, and open for business. They keep the winnings, we pick up the losses. Maybe Warren can stop it in the Senate.
Maybe, but I would be looking at my back yard or mattress for my so called retirement pension fund. These boys are gonna get it all unless you keep it from them. Don't count on regulation now as they are only designed to protect the banks money, not yours.
Sen. Warren is doing her best. Thank God for Elizabeth Warren and like-minded legislators.