The ‘Untouchable’ $23.6 Billion Funding ObamaCare

Untouchable.  That’s the treatment being given to the $23.6 billion being spent right now to implement Obamacare.
This $23.6 billion is part of the $105.5 billion appropriated by the last Congress to fund Obamacare.  The remainder (Think of it as post-dated checks for the other $81.9 billion.) automatically becomes available between now and FY2019.

None of this [...]

Washington Post and PolitiFact Confirm $105 Billion ObamaCare Slush Fund

From Heritage’s The Foundry:

Today former Congressman Ernest Istook testified before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee about the $105 billion slush fund in advance appropriations liberals tucked inside Obamacare. The $105 billion bypasses the traditional yearly budgeting process and is spread throughout the 2,700 page legislation. It took the Congressional Research Service (CRS) seven [...]

Republican Sellout Watch

Grousing about the GOP’s timidity in the battle against big government will probably become an ongoing theme over the next few months, and  let’s start with two items that don’t bode well for fiscal discipline.

First, it appears that Republicans didn’t really mean it when they promised to cut $100 billion of so-called discretionary spending as [...]

Dems Gone Wild: Throwing a Lavish Party Before their Work Is Done

For those keeping score at home, the Democrats have pulled the tax-cut extension and still have no idea how to complete a budget. They’ve punted on a number of issues that they claimed were big priorities for them. So…what to do?

Oh yeah, throw a big party!!
Outgoing Appropriations Chair David Obey (D-WI) [rarely have we written [...]

Congress Should Investigate Pigford Before Funding It

Too many elected officials are far too comfortable spending taxpayer dollars without knowing where that money will actually end up. This was proven once again by the Senate’s vote to fund the Pigford Settlements, even though serious claims of fraud exist.

In September, I joined my colleagues Congressmen Steve King (IA-05) and Bob Goodlatte (VA-06) to [...]

Freshman Already Being Moved to the Back of GOP Bus?

Much has been written about the House GOP Leadership’s plan to ban earmarks for two years. The praise they have received from conservatives is justified, because it seems, at least for the time being, that their proposed moratorium doesn’t have the weaselly wiggle-room sometimes employed by politicians. It is also likely that their stance pushed [...]

‘Top Ten Most Corrupt’: Rep. Jerry Lewis Not Fit for Appropriations Chair

Rep. Lewis may share a name with a world-renowned comedian, but there’s nothing funny about his addiction to influence peddling and earmarking.

The Legislative Shakedown

The indiscreet voicemail, left by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) for a lobbyist, sounded a bit like a “shakedown”, which is no big surprise.
I know from first-hand experience that Ms. Norton can use veiled threats and thuggish behavior when she wants to have her way.

During my time as the Administrator of the U.S. General Services [...]

Propaganda Efforts by the Obama Administration May Be Criminal

The Obama Administration has some explaining to do.  Politico reports in a Friday story that 2011 could be a tough year for an Administration facing numerous oversight hearings on issues ranging from the controversy over the Justice Department’s handling of the New Black Panther Party investigation to the numerous bailouts administered by Obama Administration officials.  Specific [...]