As a budget compromise occurred on Capitol Hill late Friday night, just before the looming "government shutdown," one wonders what kind of deals were made between President Obama, Senate leader Reid and Speaker Boehner.
In other words, "Where's the pork?"
While claiming an overall $38.5 billion budget cut, "forged amid bluster and tough bargaining" (according to The Associated Press), there was a report that Boehner was able to keep something that was dear to him in tact, allowing students in Washington DC to use "federally funded vouchers" to attend private schools.
Federally funded vouchers?
That certainly means Main Street USA residents get to pick up the tab for DC students to attend a private school.
Where do elected representatives get the idea that this kind of expense using taxpayer dollars is appropriate?
It is just as bad as an item in the disastrous national healthcare reform bill where all Americans will be contributing their money to build walking parks in certain communities. That pork bought certain votes in order to pass the trillion dollar piece of legislation.
Is it possible that those persons who have been elected to serve in the best interests of their constituents have lost sight of those best interests? Allowing any special interest fluff to remain in a budget already filled to the brim with waste is criminal.
Earmarks have cost this country dearly. They should be illegal.
It certainly seems as if Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and any who hold a public office or position (elected or appointed), have forgotten exactly who signs their paycheck. It is, after all, coming directly out of the pocket of each and every taxpaying citizen in the country.
And, as a final note, Harry Reid called this budget work "historic." Historic would actually be when not one earmark gets tacked on to any piece of legislation coming from the Senate and House of Representatives.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
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