October 1st, 2008 by john 
in Categories: 
The SOB’s in the Senate are at it again. They have porked the you know what out of the emergency bailout package. I downloaded a copy and read through it tonight. I am absolutely shocked and ashamed of what I found. It is totally business as usual. Dozens and dozens of special interest appropriations. Page after page of items that have absolutely nothing to do with our financial crisis. Don’t get me wrong, some of these things are important, but DO NOT belong in this emergency package. Unfortunately, this bill would not pass without dangling the candy in front of our addicted public servants. It will be interesting and scary to see how much this 700 billion dollar bill will actually cost tax payers.
I copied the following straight from the draft bill:
- sec. 108. credit for steel industry fuel. (page 146)
- sec. 111. expansion and modification of advanced
coal project investment credit. (page 154) - sec. 211. transportation fringe benefit to bicycle
commuters. (page 205) - sec. 314. indian employment credit. (page 262)
- sec. 316. railroad track maintenance. (page 262)
- sec. 322. tax incentives for investment in the district of columbia. (page 262)
- sec. 325. extension and modification of duty suspension on wool products; wool research fund; wool duty refunds. (page 262)
- sec. 503. exemption from excise tax for certain
wooden arrows designed for use by children (page 300) - sec. 504. income averaging for amounts received in
connection with the exxon valdez litigation. (page 301) - sec. 506. modification of penalty on understatement
of taxpayer’s liability by tax return preparer. (page 308) - subtitle b—paul wellstone and pete domenici mental health
parity and addiction equity act of 2008 (page 310) - sec. 601. secure rural schools and community self
determination program. (page 344) - sec. 702. temporary tax relief for areas damaged
by 2008 midwestern severe storms, tornados, and flooding. (page 394)
And the list goes on and on…….
Last week I actually thought these bozos were going to do what’s right for the country and act quickly with integrity. So much for my dreams of grandeur. Hold on America, we’re in for a bumpy ride.
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My name is John.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for providing a download link for the text of the actual bill. Until such time as taxpayers insist that bills do not have additional “set-asides” attached to them, this type of behavior will continue.
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I’ve written a similar post asking whether this is a Critical Rescue Plan or the Mother of All Earmarks
http://www.orient-lodge.com/node/3210
Your list of items in the bill is a valuable addition, and I added a link in a P.S. to my post.
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Are they joking what in the…. I just think it all SUCKS!!!I know that is not a very educated answer, but I am sooooooo over commenting on the crap that is happening, there is just so much!! Really John, thanks for sharing this info. I will have to show my husband.
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I knew that this type of stuff would go on, but this is just ridiculous! Is anybody in congress actually worried about the problem at hand or are they more concerned with getting their special interests to ride on the back of this hastily thrown together bill?
Nice find. I had no idea the general public could access this.
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This is really upsetting to me! I am not really a trusting person when it comes to the government but this is even worse than I had imagined.
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It is unfortunate that we can’t just do what needs to be done. There are some great changes in the bill like raising the Fed dep ins. caps, AMT break, alternative energy tax credits, and now these special interest pieces, no wonder the bill went from 4 pages to 400…
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Thanks for getting the word out on this. I grabbed the PDF. I think everyone is trying to get a piece of this bill’s action rather than focus on the major issues at hand. All those lobbyist have found a way to sneak some things in after wining and dinning our board of directors (representatives and senators).
Best regards, Matt Thompson | Mattheosis.com
Original Orthodox Hubby @ Home Dad
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400 pages! 400 pages? what on earth? now i know a few of the reasons why. i had heard on the radio that it was ridiculous what they passed through. how sneaky of them…
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It used to be 3 pages, then it was 32 pages. Exponential reproduction. These politicos need more viagra. Ask your senator if he read the whole damn bill in one day. Excuse my french!
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The sad fact is this is politics as usual, and, even though politicians are basically scuzzballs and load bills with “pork” for their self-interest, more often than not (amazingly) we don’t get as screwed as this. But since too many ignored the warning signs of this credit crisis, and failed to regulate, we ALL must suffer. We can only hope that as we tough this out, there will be some accountability.
Keep the good post coming, John, we need to vent and inform one another during these difficult times.
peace,
mike
livelife365
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John,
I agree with all you wrote.
I do have a question. Let’s say the House Republicans somehow soften and this “rescue” bill is passed, with all of the including pork.
Then in the upcoming election, the people put into office candidates who want to right the ship above self interest.
Can they go back and modify or even repeal this bill?
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How can you be agaist the wooden arrow provision…it’s all about the children man. Besides when our economy goes completely in the shitter we will have arrows to sell to the tourists.
I think it’s high time we start hanging politicians for treason.
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This year is a horror story for the US market… and the government… my two cents posted on my website too.. Dropped EC’s for you btw and visited your site, would you care to visit mine? Thanks!
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It’s just outrageous how they preform their duties. They warn us that the end is near but I guess not near enough to stop this nonsense. It’s shameful and sad. Btw- thanks for the post and quick list of addons.
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I like how they voted down the original, pre-pork, 2-page version, but voted in this pork phat piece of crap.
How come we can’t vote these pigs out of office!?!?!??! We seriously need to vote NO to all incumbents. ALL of them.
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speechless…always never trust with person with gov univorm..but better trust to trading
nice article..thanks..
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Congress is a joke. I’m not happy with the government at all right now. Look up pathological liar in the dictionary and you will find a picture of the U.S. government.
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