Congress has just passed the latest Omnibus spending bill to
fund the government and – gasp! – avoid another government shut-down. Political
minds have short memories. The last government shutdown turned Ted Cruz into a
star, and the next year, Republicans regained the US Senate and expanded their
numbers in the House.
fund the government and – gasp! – avoid another government shut-down. Political
minds have short memories. The last government shutdown turned Ted Cruz into a
star, and the next year, Republicans regained the US Senate and expanded their
numbers in the House.
At least one former Congressman, elected to the US Senate in
the 2014 GOP wave, refused to cave. US Senator Tom Cotton or
Arkansas released a blistering criticism of this legislation, all 2,000
pages of it (actually 2,000+): "A rotten process yields a rotten result,
and this 2,000-page, trillion-dollar bill is rotten to its core.” As a former
high school teacher, I took procedure as seriously as correct answers and good
work. If students don’t behave in class, no one learns. The former reserve
officer faulted a process “resulting from secret, backroom negotiations and
getting dumped in the dead of the night on Americans with barely two days
before the vote.” So, why was the Omnibus legislative process so bad, since
Cotton railed against the “rotten to the core”? It started out bad, which
spread undeterred.
the 2014 GOP wave, refused to cave. US Senator Tom Cotton or
Arkansas released a blistering criticism of this legislation, all 2,000
pages of it (actually 2,000+): "A rotten process yields a rotten result,
and this 2,000-page, trillion-dollar bill is rotten to its core.” As a former
high school teacher, I took procedure as seriously as correct answers and good
work. If students don’t behave in class, no one learns. The former reserve
officer faulted a process “resulting from secret, backroom negotiations and
getting dumped in the dead of the night on Americans with barely two days
before the vote.” So, why was the Omnibus legislative process so bad, since
Cotton railed against the “rotten to the core”? It started out bad, which
spread undeterred.
Notice that Cotton does not merely lament for the elected
representatives, who could never dial through a telephone book of a bill they
were expected to vote on two days later. This bill was “dump on Americans.” The
layers and layers of laws wrapping up this stinking legislative “Satan
Sandwich” affect you and me. Thankfully, there are more elected officials in
Congress who remember whom the Constitution protects and whom the elected
officials serve: We the People.
representatives, who could never dial through a telephone book of a bill they
were expected to vote on two days later. This bill was “dump on Americans.” The
layers and layers of laws wrapping up this stinking legislative “Satan
Sandwich” affect you and me. Thankfully, there are more elected officials in
Congress who remember whom the Constitution protects and whom the elected
officials serve: We the People.
By the time I called into US Senator Cory Gardner
(R-Colorado)’s office, legislative staff had learned
the final tallies were recorded. Thirty-three US Senators voted against
this Omnibus, which included some Democrats, who stuck to their pro-green
principles (yes, some Democrats have principles, even if they are the wrong
ones) and could never sign onto bills lifting a ban on oil exports. “Weekend
at” Bernie Sanders also voted “No”, more likely to shore up credibility for his
presidential bid, since his previous compromising ways in favor of the Second
Amendment have hurt him the most against Hillary Clinton.
(R-Colorado)’s office, legislative staff had learned
the final tallies were recorded. Thirty-three US Senators voted against
this Omnibus, which included some Democrats, who stuck to their pro-green
principles (yes, some Democrats have principles, even if they are the wrong
ones) and could never sign onto bills lifting a ban on oil exports. “Weekend
at” Bernie Sanders also voted “No”, more likely to shore up credibility for his
presidential bid, since his previous compromising ways in favor of the Second
Amendment have hurt him the most against Hillary Clinton.
Besides Cotton, other Republican US Senators blasted in
press this latest “Everyone on the” Omnibus legislation.
press this latest “Everyone on the” Omnibus legislation.
US Senator Ted Cruz excoriated this “rotten to the core”
legislation in left-wing Politico before he voted against it: “Since taking control of the Senate,
Republican leadership has joined hands with a majority of Democrats to thwart
their own caucus’ efforts to stop the Obama agenda 24 times.”
legislation in left-wing Politico before he voted against it: “Since taking control of the Senate,
Republican leadership has joined hands with a majority of Democrats to thwart
their own caucus’ efforts to stop the Obama agenda 24 times.”
Rand Paul of Kentucky
reminded the country of his staunch stance against increased debt: “Since
coming to Washington, I have voted against every spending bill that continues
to add to our nation’s mountain of debt, and this bill is no different.” There
are some issues that allow no compromise. Either our government is cutting
spending, or it is not. These realities cannot founder under compromise.
reminded the country of his staunch stance against increased debt: “Since
coming to Washington, I have voted against every spending bill that continues
to add to our nation’s mountain of debt, and this bill is no different.” There
are some issues that allow no compromise. Either our government is cutting
spending, or it is not. These realities cannot founder under compromise.
Even US Senators not up for reelection – or running for
President – let fly their full displeasure. Ben Saase of Nebraska, whose maiden
speech in the US Senate reminded all members of their role in the more
deliberate upper chamber, voted against this bill. Steve
Daines of Montana: “Once again, Washington’s inaction and govern-by-crisis
strategy is getting in the way of providing the American people with the
long-term solutions they deserve. We need an open discussion about how to support
our nation’s priorities. . .” An open discussion: sounds like the ideal in a
liberal democracy, right? Daines pointed out the positives in the bill, like
lifting the oil export ban and removing taxes on individuals and businesses.
Those benefits did not overcome his resistance to increased spending or funding
unconstitutional executive priorities.
President – let fly their full displeasure. Ben Saase of Nebraska, whose maiden
speech in the US Senate reminded all members of their role in the more
deliberate upper chamber, voted against this bill. Steve
Daines of Montana: “Once again, Washington’s inaction and govern-by-crisis
strategy is getting in the way of providing the American people with the
long-term solutions they deserve. We need an open discussion about how to support
our nation’s priorities. . .” An open discussion: sounds like the ideal in a
liberal democracy, right? Daines pointed out the positives in the bill, like
lifting the oil export ban and removing taxes on individuals and businesses.
Those benefits did not overcome his resistance to increased spending or funding
unconstitutional executive priorities.
![]("http://media.breitbart.com/media/2015/03/ap_tom-cotton_ap-photo-640x512.jpg") |
| US Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) |
A deliberative body must undertake deliberate decisions to
stop not just slow the growth of government into our lives, to recognize and
expand the full expression of our natural rights. The United States does not
need the US Senate to discuss how much we will keep overspending, yet not as
much as last time. The US Congress has forgotten its role, and the US Senate more
so, in that they are still going along to get along with a rogue chief
executive. George Washington explained to Thomas Jefferson, The Senate os the
saucer to cool the passions of the more populist House. Now the Republican
Congress needs to learn that they must chill the vain and dangerous ambitions
of a propagandizing President, or be thrown out of office.
stop not just slow the growth of government into our lives, to recognize and
expand the full expression of our natural rights. The United States does not
need the US Senate to discuss how much we will keep overspending, yet not as
much as last time. The US Congress has forgotten its role, and the US Senate more
so, in that they are still going along to get along with a rogue chief
executive. George Washington explained to Thomas Jefferson, The Senate os the
saucer to cool the passions of the more populist House. Now the Republican
Congress needs to learn that they must chill the vain and dangerous ambitions
of a propagandizing President, or be thrown out of office.
Thankfully, US Senator Tom Cotton is part of this rising
conservative US Senate phalanx in Washington. Once deemed “the most powerful man in Washington”, the
junior US Senator does not embrace the Kumbaya spirit of the Old GOP Guard,
which keeps spending money and expanding government, with no regarding for the
integrity of the Constitution, or the well-being of our country or its future. More
Senators should follow these conservative statesmen’s example. The Congress
does not succumb to President’s will, but the other way around. I prize that Cruz identified “Republican
leadership”, because voters, activists, and even state party chairman are fed
up with the caving, cowering Washington Cartel.
conservative US Senate phalanx in Washington. Once deemed “the most powerful man in Washington”, the
junior US Senator does not embrace the Kumbaya spirit of the Old GOP Guard,
which keeps spending money and expanding government, with no regarding for the
integrity of the Constitution, or the well-being of our country or its future. More
Senators should follow these conservative statesmen’s example. The Congress
does not succumb to President’s will, but the other way around. I prize that Cruz identified “Republican
leadership”, because voters, activists, and even state party chairman are fed
up with the caving, cowering Washington Cartel.
Another question: What is it about this new cadre of
conservative US Senators – Saase, Daines, Cruz, Paul – besides their youth?
Their commitment to a new, confrontations form of governance stems precisely
from their lack of experience in Washington, with its backroom deals and the
sickening sausage-making all too common place. They have lived (or suffered)
under the cloud of former President George W. Bush’s compassionate, spend-thrift
social conservatism. They ran against hand-picked Republican Establishment
successors in a number of cases, and won alongside the rising tide of the
piping-hot Tea Party movement.
conservative US Senators – Saase, Daines, Cruz, Paul – besides their youth?
Their commitment to a new, confrontations form of governance stems precisely
from their lack of experience in Washington, with its backroom deals and the
sickening sausage-making all too common place. They have lived (or suffered)
under the cloud of former President George W. Bush’s compassionate, spend-thrift
social conservatism. They ran against hand-picked Republican Establishment
successors in a number of cases, and won alongside the rising tide of the
piping-hot Tea Party movement.
As their numbers are rising, and We the People should be
glad not sad after this latest legislative punt. We need more representatives
like Senator Cotton, who will pick apart and reject business-as-usual games in
Washington, even if it means voting against their leaders or risking a
government shut-down.
glad not sad after this latest legislative punt. We need more representatives
like Senator Cotton, who will pick apart and reject business-as-usual games in
Washington, even if it means voting against their leaders or risking a
government shut-down.