Observation of the Day!
Even when we are looking at the most important piece of legislation of our times, Congress still plays the Washington Old MacDonald's farm game. Oink! Oink! here Oink! Oink! there. Here an Oink there and Oink everywhere an Oink! Oink! If it looks like a pig, it's still rotten pork.
This are some of the hog crap tucked into the Bill. The special provisions include tax breaks for:
* Manufacturers of kids' wooden arrows - $6 million.
* Puerto Rican and Virgin Is- lands rum producers - $192 million.
* Wool research.
* Auto-racing tracks - $128 million.
* Corporations operating in American Samoa - $33 million.
* Small- to medium-budget film and television productions - $10 million.
Another measure inserted into the bill appears to be a bald-faced bid aimed at winning the support of Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), who voted against the original version when it went down in flames in the House on Monday.
That provision - a $223 million package of tax benefits for fishermen and others whose livelihoods suffered as a result of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill 19 years ago? - has been the subject of fervent lobbying by Alaska's congressional delegation.
They can't even make this life changing bill without trashing it up for purely pork barrel projects. Is there any wonder why our government is not working very well? Reform is needed. but hardly likely to ever happen. Somehow we need to keep legislation clean, so we know what they are voting for.BTW. Wells Fargo acquired Wachovia today without government help. It works for them, why not all. The market can decide, sink or swim. Having said that I believe government must do something, but it pisses me off.
Have a nice day, if you can!
Samuel C. Arnold
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