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CAGW's Blog
1-800-
BE-ANGRY
December 2009
A Monthly Dispatch from Citizens Against Government Waste
Weatherization: More Clouds on the Horizon
by: Leslie Paige
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the so-called stimulus package, continues to be a source of contention and controversy as the end of 2009 approaches. When Congress first considered the $787 billion legislation, CAGW expressed grave concerns about the entire plan, especially those programs which received massive increases in their budgets.
Time for a Constitutional Line Item Veto
by: Erica Gordon
As the year draws to a close and the nation’s deficit soars to $1.4 trillion, Congress’s spendthrift behavior persists. On December 16, 2009 President Obama signed a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill; $446.8 billion of that amount covered six of the seven remaining appropriations bill.
National Lampoon’s European Vacation
by: Sean Kennedy
Ostensibly in Scotland to partake in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, several members of Congress are coming under fire for using the trip as a personal vacation. Led by Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.) the group, consisting of 12 representatives (eight Democrats, four Republicans), nine of the members’ spouses, and five legislative aides, stayed in a $300-per night hotel overlooking the Edinburgh Castle. In addition to the rooms required to lodge participants, the group rented three additional rooms, which were stocked with “…liquor, Coors beer, chips and salsa, sandwiches, Mrs. Fields cookies and York Peppermint Patties…,” according to a December 17, 2009 article in The Wall Street Journal. Adding to the expense, the group flew on a plane provided by the Air Force.
Dithering on the Debt
by: Roger Morse
On December 16, 2009, by a vote of 218-214, lawmakers voted to raise the debt ceiling by $290 billion to $12.394 trillion. This is similar to the limit that banks and other lenders allow individuals to charge on their credit cards. Ironically, during the recession, millions of Americans received notices from their credit card companies telling them their credit limit was being reduced. Yet, this Congress is expanding its credit at rates far greater than any time in its history.
Time to End Stealth Tax Increases
by: John Frydenlund
Thirty-two states impose ad valorem excise taxes on moist smokeless tobacco (MST). An ad valorem tax is based on a percentage of the price of the product, so the tax rises any time the price of the merchandise increases. This is similar to property taxes that rise along with increased assessed values.
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