[Government watchdogs claim that the money has created an unseemly rush to stick taxpayers with unnecessary expenses.] There have been a number of contracts, including the one for the cruise ships, that seem hard to defend, ... It comes from not planning in advance, then doing these contracts without competitive bidding. |
Agencies should be able to accept bids from any company that can provide the desired product or service. Government earns the best value for taxpayer dollars through a competitive, transparent, and accountable bidding process. |
Anyone can talk about cutting waste and taxes. Rep. Coble is of the rare breed who 'walks the walk' by voting to ease the burden of a cumbersome, bloated federal government. |
Clearly, if a terrorist is already over the border, he's not going to target a dinner cruise, |
Cutting waste is a politically difficult task because almost every program has an active constituency that profits from the status quo, ... But Sen. Chambliss recognizes that the federal government must set priorities. He has taken a long- term view of the nation's fiscal problems and makes a serious effort to tackle the enormous debt being left to future generations. |
Despite a record $427 billion deficit predicted for fiscal 2005, members of Congress are engaging in the worst form of blatant self-interest; larding the budget with pork for home districts and states, |
Despite a record $427 billion deficit predicted for fiscal 2005, members of Congress are engaging in the worst form of blatant self-interest; larding the budget with pork for home districts and states. |
Eleven years ago we never expected this would be the case. Many people now long for a divided government because that may be what it takes to get more responsibility, |
Everyone's opening up their wallets to help (Katrina's victims) -- except members of Congress, who are opening up our wallets. |
For $700 million, Congress could certainly do a lot more to help people that are still without homes. |
For $700 million, the Congress could certainly do a lot more to help people that are still without homes. It's certainly unclear what this has to do with an emergency. It sounds like a wish list from the senators from Mississippi. |
Given that it's an election year (next year), there could be pressure to increase earmarks. But there could be even more pressure, on Republicans in particular, to show that they are doing something about the pork and the waste. |
Given the current circumstances, whoever becomes majority leader will have to be careful about appearing to do something special for their friends or district. |
I would like to once again ask members of Congress to take a good hard look in the mirror and ask themselves whether their parochial pork projects are really more important than our national and fiscal security. |
In 2004, Congress wasted tax dollars like never before. Very few members of Congress are working to ease the tax and regulatory burden of a cumbersome, bloated federal government, |