A Conservative View

CONGRESS IS STILL OUT OF CONTROL!

HANG ON TO YOUR SEAT BELT!

Congress just can’t be honest with the American people and I just read about some little things they decided to include in yesterday’s action. They ended the shut-down, ignored the majority of Americans by funding Obamacare and just kicked the can down the road 90 days. This will give them cover to hide behind through Christmas and enough time to replace the $600,000.00 computer system that opens up your personal financial information to every hacker alive. Anyone who uses the current enrollment software is nuts.

Take a peek at some of the “LITTLE SECRET” things Obama signed into law.  

Funding to upgrade the Olmstead Lock on the Ohio River between Illinois and Kentucky was increased from a cap of $775,000,000.00 to a cap of $2,900,000,000.00. This was added to placate two of our most powerful Senators. Mitch McConnell, is the #1 Republican and Leader of the minority and Richard Durban is the #2 Democratic Leader of the Senate. Remember these people are here to lead the most powerful group in Washington.

Guess what states McConnell and Durban represent in the Senate? You are a winner if you chose Illinois and Kentucky. But who cares when it is just chump change for Congress and Obama to cover up another 200% screwed up government under-estimated? I do. Do you?

By the way both of them said they had nothing to do with the provision and others backed that up. Aides to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the leaders of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees water projects, said they had requested the provision. Another big surprise, neither McConnell or Durban voted against this debacle. I wonder how many members of Congress from Illinois and Kentucky voted against this added and un-funded expense.  

To cover their asses McConnell and Durban said President Barack Obama had requested the project in his budget this year. As the Senate has not produced a budget for over 1000 days why bring this up now.

To supply some cover for the biased media to twist, the following statement was made. “This is not an earmark,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. told reporters Wednesday. Can anyone out there explain to me why McConnell brokered this compromise on the shutdown and debt limit bill? Would McConnell or Boehner have caved in to Obama if they were not facing re-election next year?

Another little “Secret” insertion into this Republican sell-out was for flood-battered Colorado. The bill included a measure to eliminate the $100 million limit on Federal Highway Administration emergency highway aid to $450 million for the state. Colorado officials have said last month’s flooding destroyed 200 miles of roads and 50 bridges. What’s another $350,000,000.00 of un-funded expense for these buffoons to waste?

In my opinion this was just another way to buy Colorado votes for the Democrats. McConnell, Boehner and the other “Republican’s in Name Only (RINO’s)”, like McCain, Graham and more are creating a real need for a new political party to represent conservatives. They have no backbones, ethics or honesty when a bag of silver is dangled in their faces.

Another little “Secret” was an extra $294,000,000.00 included to help the Veterans Affairs Department whittle down a backlog of disabilities claims. How much? Someone should go to jail for the horrid mess in this agency but who cares about our veterans? I do.

Another little “Secret” was $100,000,000.00 million to prevent furloughs of air traffic controllers, safety inspectors and extra money for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to continue work on two weather satellites.

Another little “Secret” was to give permission for the Pentagon to keep assisting African nations pursue Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel group accused of atrocities. The amount was not available for this expense as it is probably “Top Secret” which permits the Defense Department to hide reality under the cloak and dagger operations that probably include the CIA and the NSA. Congress likely does not care anyway. I do. Do you?

Other little “Secret” provisions include extra money for contracts with private companies whose ships move American troops and their equipment overseas. How much” Who cares? I do.

Two more little “Secrets” included were $600,000,000.00 for U.S. Forest Service and $36,000,000.00 million for the Department of the Interior, both for firefighting.

Only because they ran out of time to stuff in more earmarks and pork this bill was only 35 pages. Wow, a new record and it had only a few “Secret” provisions. Can you imagine what these stewards who protect our freedom, rights, economic future and their own agendas will come up with to get re-elected. They now have ninety days to pack the next debt ceiling crisis legislation with pork and earmarks. 469 of them will face a challenge to their future in 2014. I hope all of the ones who voted for this cop-out are unemployed next year. New Congresspersons will have to be more careful and it will take them at least one term to get their ticket for the gravy train. Most of them who get re-elected would serve their second term in prison if our ethic and fraud laws applied to elected government employees.

The legislation is supposed to keep federal agencies functioning through Jan. 15. 2014. Does all of this make you feel happy, secure, protected and well represented? Not me.

Another event occurred to us personally yesterday when we received our bill for our homeowners and vehicle insurance for 2014. It was some 27% and nearly $1000.00 more than 2013. We have not had an accident or claim for several years and none since we changed to Liberty Mutual in 2011.

I called the agent this morning to inquire what caused the severe increase and received two reasons;

1. I was asked if we had taken a driving course recently which might reduce our rates. We have not had any reason to take a driving course as there have been no accidents, fines, insurance claims for many years. I am 83 years old and Texas feels I am still authorized to drive my car until my 85^th birthday in 2015. Why do we need to pay to take driving lessons?

2. I was advised that the primary increase was due to the new requirements of Obamacare health insurance increases in the liability accident healthcare coverage.

I am currently shopping for an insurance agent who has not lost their sanity. If this is something that all insurance companies intend to use to raise rates I suggest you pay close attention when you get your bill for homeowners and car insurance for 2014 and beyond.

Bend over folks, I’m certain that we all have several more Obama and Congress finger wave colon inspections coming soon. I am tired of this game, or you?

C Brewer