Nov. 19, 2005 - 17:00 PST

THE IMPORTANT STUFF

It is easy to see what Congress thinks is of true importance to our country. Short quotes on an article by David Espo of the Associated Press in this morning's Eugene, Oregon Register Guard:

CONGRESS UPS ITS PAY, DELAYS ACTION ON SPENDING, TAX BILLS

WASHINGTON -- "The Republican-controlled Congress helped itself to a $3,100 pay raise on Friday, then postponed decisions on bills to curb spending on social programs and cut taxes in favor of a two-week vacation."

"The cost-of-living increase for members of Congress -- which will put pay for the rank and file at an estimated $165,200 a year -- marked a brief truce in the pitched battles that have flared in recent weeks on the war as well as domestic issues."

"Pay raise harmony aside, Republicans spent the day celebrating a party-line, post mid-night vote in which the House cleared legislation to reduce deficits by $50 billion in five years. The vote was 217-215, with all of the Democrats who voted in opposition along with 14 GOP rebels."

"The House passed measure attacks deficits by limiting spending for the first time in a decade on Medicaid, food stamps, student loans and other benefit programs that normally rise with inflation and eligibility."

"It also agreed to reinstate sales of mining lands at CHEAP prices as part of its budget cut plan, a move that could transfer into private hands up to 20 million acres of poublic lands on Western ranges, national forests and even national parks."

No such provision is contained in the Senate version of the budget measure, so the issue will be one of the items to be resolved when lawmakers return in December."

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Heh, might be a blessing in disguise. At least there will be a two week delay in Congressional action on John Q. Public's pocketbook.

Perhaps by then their conscience will have driven them to rethink just what the results of the considered legislation will have on us poor folks.

Heh, maybe by then they will decide to cancel the $3,100 raise for themselves. Riiiight - - sure they will. Probably up the tax take on the little Joes of the country to make up for it.

One school of thought is that Congress should put themselves on Social Security thereby urging them to fix SS. But a term in Congress, I understand gives a Congressman his pension for life at his full pay. the estimated $165,200 a year. Now if that were limited as Social Security limits the rest of us, that $165,200 a year would be cut way down. So I think that dream will never come true.

The sale of mining lands at CHEAP rates is, in my mind an insult to the population of our country.

However, Congress put those things aside so that they could push the IMPORTANT STUFF

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