Over Coffee

   “Ask and ye shall receive.” In my last column I queried readers about a great idea somebody called me about that had to do with returning the pork that Congress spread around everywhere for low-priority and relatively obscure projects. The answer to my question about whose idea this was showed up today. I’ve pasted the information below for you to read. It makes a great deal of sense to me. If we as a nation have some special needs, then we as a nation might need to make some fiscal adjustments in other less essential areas so we can afford to address the acute special needs. We all have to do that kind of budgeting at home. Why should the nation’s budget be any different? I strongly resist the idea of loading our future generations with national debt, so this notion appeals to me. Read on…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2005 

Congress Must Use Heart and Head in Hurricane Relief 

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) issued the following statement regarding his proposed amendment to offset $51.8 billion in hurricane relief spending from lower priority programs: 

“In the aftermath of this terrible tragedy, I believe Congress must use its head as well as its heart to help keep America strong. My heart goes out to all of the victims of this disaster. My wife’s family is from New Orleans and it has been a very trying time.

“Congress must do everything necessary to attend to the immediate needs of those who have tragically lost their homes and their livelihoods. But Congress must also use its head. At this critical time, we need to exercise sound fiscal judgment and ensure that we do not end up bankrupting our children and grandchildren. 

“When so many lives have been shattered and relief is so critical, Congress cannot continue to fund projects like the $800,000 outhouse, $1.2 million for Panda research, or the $50 million indoor rainforest in Iowa. The fundamental question is who should tighten their belt to pay for this damage, American families or the federal government?

“There are only three ways to pay for this emergency supplemental appropriation caused by Hurricane Katrina: raise taxes, increase the national debt or tighten the belt of the federal government. By refusing to offset this spending, we are simply taking the most politically expedient path by adding to our already staggering debt and passing the buck to future generations. At a time when Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are growing out of control, refusing to offset even one penny of this bill with lower priority spending is unacceptable. I hope Congress will find a way to introduce offsets in the future.”

Hensarling’s Amendment would have offset nearly $52 billion in hurricane emergency spending with funding from lower priority programs over five years. This commonsense offset would reduce government spending across the board, but would exempt entitlement spending, defense, homeland security and veterans funding. The amendment would not deny one penny of relief to the Gulf Coast, nor would it delay relief in any way. 

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   You know, this ought to be a no-brainer, but Jeb Hensarling’s amendment evidently couldn’t get out of the Rules Committee. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, conservative or a liberal or somewhere in between in your politics, this idea ought to appeal to you. Might I point out that we aren’t nearly through with a particularly volatile hurricane season, which officially extends until November 30th? There may yet be even more aid needed. 

   People are talking about this concept. It’s on the radio waves and the Internet. I hope you will grab hold and talk about it, too. If our legislators think this is the more popular position than bringing home the bacon to their districts, then the “return the pork” concept will get somewhere on Capitol Hill. Remember, my friends, our legislators are, generally speaking, absolutely WEDDED to pork. Pork equates to votes. Let’s hope there are more commonsense legislators like Jeb Hensarling and they will be able to knock some sense into the others! It will probably take an avalanche of phone calls and e-mail messages from constituents. Be advised that legislators’ aides have a rude little practice of only passing along telephone messages from constituents, so be sure to start with your own state’s delegation.

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   Our own local high school has received 74 students from Hurricane Katrina’s evacuees. Every school in Gwinnett County has received at least one student whose family is escaping the devastation of the storm. Norcross High School has established a Giving Tree, which matches the evacuees with some of their pressing immediate needs. I picked up one of these “leaves” at Interlochen Cleaners, went shopping, and did my best. May I encourage you all to do something, too? 

   Hope all is well and thanks for reading. 

092005

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