December 24, 2010

It’s the Season

Ho, Ho, Ho. It's that time of year again. Shopping. Selecting the right gift. Thinking of those special someones.

Yes, it's Omnibus Spending Bill time, the Satan Clause time of year, when politicians fill up the stockings of their naughty friends in the lobbying business, and give generously.

With our money.

This year, Harry Reid went all out. He pushed an omnibus spending package that included so many earmarks that Congress had to use its whole box of Crayons just to keep some order to the bill's marked corners. Yes, there were over six thousand "special holiday gifts" for special interests.

As I said, "Ho, Ho, Ho."

That's not an elfin chuckle, that's a popular euphemism for what the politicians are who cooked up this list without checking it twice.

But an unseasonable gust took the wind out of Reid's sails. Pressured by folks back home, the bill was soundly defeated. As Daniel Mitchell put it, it was the American people -- not the special interests -- who got the Christmas present:

[F]iscal conservatives, libertarians, and Tea Partiers have won an important battle, but this is just one skirmish in a long war. If we want to save America from becoming another Greece, we better make sure that we redouble our efforts next year.

At last, special interests get a lump of coal. It's something to celebrate. And repeat. Ho, Ho, Ho! Like that ol' elfin chuckle.

This is Common Sense. I'm Paul Jacob.


December 24, 2010 It’s the Season Ho, Ho, Ho. It's that time of year again. Shopping. Selecting the right gift. Thinking of those special someones. Yes, it's Omnibus Spending Bill time, the Satan Clause time of year, when politicians fill up the stockings of their naughty friends in the lobbying business, and give generously. With our money. This year, Harry Reid went all out. He pushed an omnibus spending package that included so many earmarks that Congress had to use its whole box of Crayons just to keep some order to the bill's marked corners. Yes, there were over six thousand "special holiday gifts" for special interests. As I said, "Ho, Ho, Ho." That's not an elfin chuckle, that's a popular euphemism for what the politicians are who cooked up this list without checking it twice. But an unseasonable gust took the wind out of Reid's sails. Pressured by folks back home, the bill was soundly defeated. As Daniel Mitchell put it, it was the American people -- not the special interests -- who got the Christmas present: [F]iscal conservatives, libertarians, and Tea Partiers have won an important battle, but this is just one skirmish in a long war. If we want to save America from becoming another Greece, we better make sure that we redouble our efforts next year. At last, special interests get a lump of coal. It's something to celebrate. And repeat. Ho, Ho, Ho! Like that ol' elfin chuckle. This is Common Sense. I'm Paul Jacob. Comment on this episode \| View/download the PDF	Paul Jacob is President of Citizens in Charge and Citizens in Charge Foundation, which sponsors both Common Sense and Paul's weekly Townhall Column. The opinions expressed in Common Sense are Paul Jacob's and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Citizens in Charge or Citizens in Charge Foundation.