Back Talk

Although the Democrats were not altogether happy with the final reading of the bill, we saw a rare occasion of the two parties coming together in a more or less bi-partisan way. Of course it was merely election year pandering where the Pols can get some attaboys for presenting something superficially beneficial to all and proving that they actually do something out there in Washington besides posture and bloviate, and, best of all, something that will lose them no votes. Naturally, the Democrats wanted more freebies such as an extension of unemployment benefits. Harry Reid and Ways and Means Committee chairman Charlie Rangel were very vocal on this point since they have either no clue or no care about the economics reality. Extending unemployment means more potential workers will stay out of work for longer periods, remaining on the government dole, allowing them to look for that perfect job. It is axiomatic that, if you reward behavior, either good or bad behavior, you will get more of it, whether it is welfare payouts, farm subsidy contracts, or benefits to illegal aliens. The inept, inefficient Congress passed this rebate bill in just two weeks. There are 180 people that have been nominated for federal positions, including 28 judicial nominees that are waiting for Senate confirmation – a constitutionally defined Senators’ duty. Of the overall group, 30 have waited more than a year and nine have waited more than two years.