The president and Congress should not be proud of the adoption of the recent 1,582 page long Omnibus Spending Bill by Congress.
Today’s generation of Congress members could learn much from the late Idaho Republican Sen. James A McClure.
For 19 years, his claim to fame on Capitol Hill was reading every word of every bill before voting on it. For many years, he signed his own mail.
Today members of Congress would need an Evelyn Wood speed reading class to absorb the 1,582 pages contained in the Omnibus Spending Bill for the rest of federal fiscal year 2014.
Most members had little time to read the fine print before being asked to vote up or down.
Only lobbyists, key Congressional staff members employed by the House and Senate leadership teams along with the House and Senate appropriations committees who actually wrote the fine print within the 1,582 pages on behalf of their bosses, had any idea of the details buried in the actual contents.
Can you imagine how many pork barrel member item projects, special tax code provisions, regulatory relief for favored businesses or unions along with other legislative treats to “Pay for Play” contributors, lobbyists and special interest groups were included in the bill?
This was the political quid pro quo or price to pay for many Democrats and Republicans, liberal and conservative to vote for the overall bill.
Congress reminds me of Don Corleone, the Godfather. He was fond of saying, when have I not accommodated a request from a friend for a favor.
All I ask is that sometime in the future I may call upon you to perform a future favor for me with no questions asked.
There should be a two-week minimum time out period before voting on any spending bills or legislation. This would provide adequate time for members of any legislative body but also ordinary citizens, the media and independent good government watch dog groups the opportunity to understand all of the contents contained in any proposed bill.
Everyone would also have the right under an open process to comment and discuss the merits or consequences before others vote up or down for adoption.
There was a time when Congress held budget hearings for each department during the summer. A real balanced budget was adopted during an open process. The public, watchdog groups and media were afforded sufficient time to understand the full contents prior to adoption.
Full federal budgets were adopted on time prior to the start of any new Federal Fiscal year on October 1. There was no need for adoption of a super spending bill for agencies.
We need new incentives for the President and Congress to do their jobs on time. Let us propose we dock them a days pay for each day a complete balanced budget for Federal Fiscal Year 2015 which starts on October 1, 2014 if it is not adopted on time by September 30.
I bet the results will be different this time when any delay comes out of their pockets instead of taxpayers
Remember in 2010 Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said “We have to pass the Health Care Bill so we can find out what’s in it.”
The devil was buried in the almost 11,000 pages of details. We are just finding out what was in it and have to live with the consequences.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
