June 12, 2006
Previewing a Democratic House Majority: Hold on to your Wallet
The very first thing Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy talks about in the biographical section of his official Congressional website is his work on the House Appropriations Committee...
Patrick J. Kennedy is serving his sixth term in Congress as the representative from the First District of Rhode Island.I hope that Congressman Kennedy considers the national interest in his work on the Appropriations Committee, something that his Appropriations Committee colleague Jim Moran of Virginia apparently believes to be largely unnecessary. This is how Congressman Moran, in the Arlington Sun-Gazette, talks about his plans for the future if the Democrats retake a majority in the House...Kennedy was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee in December 1998, but requested a leave of absence in order to fulfill a two-year term as the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. With the term completed, Kennedy now sits on the powerful panel which has authority over all of the federal government's discretionary spending. As part of his Appropriations duties, Kennedy sits on the Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and on Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary.
Moran, D-8th, told those attending the Arlington County Democratic Committee's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner on June 9 that while he in theory might oppose the fiscal irresponsibility of "earmarks" - funneling money to projects in a member of Congress's district - he understands the value they have to constituents.Is Congressman Moran speaking only for himself here, or expressing the philosophy shared by all Congressional Democrats? I've contacted Congressman Kennedy's office to try to find out."When I become chairman [of a House appropriations subcommittee], I'm going to earmark the sh** out of it," Moran buoyantly told a crowd of 450 attending the event.
Remember Congressman Moran when Democrats make their arguments for why taxes must be rasied. It's not that more money is needed to address real needs; it's that Congressional chairmen want to take control of more of your money in order to bolster their power.
Why do I still find it so shocking every time I read it?
Posted by: taxpayer at June 12, 2006 5:05 PMIn part, I think it's the condescension of a politician standing up before a crowd and proudly saying "I WANT TO BUY YOUR VOTE!"
Posted by: Andrew at June 12, 2006 5:14 PMYes, Andrew, that and the blatant, open intention to misappropriate taxpayer money, being held up for all to hail and applaud. It sends a message of doom throughout the herd.
Posted by: taxpayer at June 12, 2006 9:45 PMAre you kidding me? Nothing can be worse than the fiscally irresponsible earmarking currently occurring under Republican control. Look no further than the current Republican Speaker of the House and his self serving earmark of a Prairie Highway. Nice to pocket $2M in real estate profits after securing the earmark "for his constituents". Ditto for the Bridge to Nowhere.
Give me a break. This is the most fiscally reckless group of lawmakers in history. National Republicans have lost any vestige of authority when it comes to fiscal responsibility. Time to put some adults in charge. Not these children who view my taxes as their candy store for themselves and their cronies.
Posted by: bren at June 18, 2006 9:14 PM