Our 'Conservative' Republican Congress

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http://www.lewrockwell.com/vance/vance67.html

The 109th Congress has completed its first session and begun the second and final session of its two-year term. Since it is an established truth that no man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session, it would be a good idea to see what our "conservative" Republican Congress has done during the previous year.

The Republicans in the 109th Congress have an even greater majority than they had in the 108th Congress. The previous Congress ended in the House with 227 Republicans, 205 Democrats, 1 Independent, and 2 vacancies, and in the Senate with 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and 1 Independent. The House now consists of 231 Republicans, 202 Democrats, 1 Independent, and 1 vacancy (because of the resignation of "The Honorable" Randy "Duke" Cunningham on December 1, 2005). The Senate is now made up of 55 Republicans, 44 Democrats, and 1 Independent.

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Congressional Pork

Congressmen love pork-barrel spending, and so do many Americans – if the pork is earmarked for their district. Of course, congressmen never label pork for what it really is. It is always disguised as an appropriations bill. A typical example is what is featured on the homepage of Republican Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO). Instead of saying: "Congressman Blunt Skims $27.17 Million from U.S. taxpayers for Military-related Spending in His District," we instead read the following: "Congressman Blunt Delivers $27.17 Million for Southwest Missouri Research Projects." When we follow the link we are told that this piece of pork is from the 2006 Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R.2863).

Public Law 109-59 is the infamous $286 billion, pork-laden highway bill. Prior to the enactment of this law, there were six new laws extending the old pork-laden highway bill. After signing this into law, the president congratulated House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) for "helping his constituents" to receive more than $200 million of this money. Only Bush and the unprincipled Republicans in Congress could call raping the taxpayers "helping his constituents."

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