United Liberty

Virginia Congressman Tom Perriello was more candid than most of his collegues during a recent meeting with constituents:

Truer words were never spoken.

A recent Rasmussen poll revealed substantial support for small government amongst Americans:

Sixty-six percent (66%) of U.S. voters prefer a smaller government with fewer services and lower taxes over a more active government with more services and higher taxes.

Even if they prefer a small government, Americans are faced with a country in which the federal government is the largest employer and the pay afforded its employees dwarfs that of a private worker:

While many workers in the private sector have despaired of a pay increase in the past few years, Congress takes care of federal employees with annual raises, awarding 3.9 percent in 2009, 3.5 percent in 2008 and 2.7 percent in 2007.

The average pay for the nation’s 1.9 million federal workers is a little over $71,000, with the 372,041 federal workers in the Washington area earning an average of $94,047. The average salary for the nation’s 108 million private-sector workers is $50,028.

Government employees are often unionized and have infrastructure built to keep them from being fired even if they fail to perform their job functions. They tend to vote Democratic and their unions are among the biggest contributors to the Democratic Party. Is it any wonder then that the average American continues to face a vacant job market while a Democratic Congress provides increasing raises for federal employees?

The Ron Paul faithful are going to disagree with me, but I’m disappointed that the good doctor continues to engage and support pork barrel spending by voting against an amendment sponsored by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) that would have banned earmarks in a spending bill:

Paul was one of only two “nay” votes on his side of the aisle against an amendment to HR 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009, offered by his fellow Constitutional conservator, Flake.

The only Republican lined up with Paul  - and against Flake - was that egregious earmarker, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), the Ranking Member on Appropriations. Like his Showbiz namesake, the collegial Lewis’ look could pass for that of a 70’s “Nite Club” act and he certainly knows how to work a room, but he’s dead serious about defending Appropriators’ perks and the practice of earmarking.

Flake’s amendment was modest.

We often hear Blue Dog Democrats referred to as “fiscal conservatives” and we’re told about their concerns about the budget deficits.The guys over at National Taxpayers Union have put together a spreadsheet showing how Blue Dogs or otherwise vulnerable districts have voted on TARP, the auto bailout, the “stimulus,” the budget and ObamaCare (among a few other votes).

If you live in one of these districts, I’d encourage you to support their opponent in 2010. These Blue Dogs are not fiscal conservatives. They are part of the Culture of Debt in Washington, DC.

Two California Democrats are bragging about pork they got out of the health care bill passed by the House on Saturday in exchange for their votes:

California Democratic Reps. Jim Costa and Dennis Cardoza touted new funding for projects and facilities in their districts coming as a result of the House’s health legislation.

Both of the lawmakers, who hadn’t pledged their support for the bill — which ultimately passed — until shortly before the vote, released statements promoting their successes.

“During my negotiations to help improve the bill for our valley, I was able to achieve funding for a medical school in the valley, with studies at UC Merced and residency in Fresno, as well as additional incentives to bring health professionals to our valley,” Costa said in a statement, reported by the California Business Journal. “Increased funding in this bill for programs ranging from nurse training to health career opportunity programs to community health centers and increased reimbursement rates for low-paying Medicaid will go a long way in strengthening our health system in the valley.”

Cardoza said: “We do need to make parts of this bill better. I am concerned with the cost of the bill while our nation’s debt continues to rise. I am also concerned with limiting the impact on small businesses. I have shared both of these concerns with the [Obama] administration.”

Don’t be surprised. This happens all the time. Outside the halls of Congress, we’d call it “pay-for-play,” bribery or extortion. Personally, I think these two members and the Speaker should be impeached for this.

Here is another example of government waste from the Wall Street Journal (make sure no sharp objects are near by):

We thought cash for clunkers was the ultimate waste of taxpayer money, but as usual we were too optimistic. Thanks to the federal tax credit to buy high-mileage cars that was part of President Obama’s stimulus plan, Uncle Sam is now paying Americans to buy that great necessity of modern life, the golf cart.

The federal credit provides from $4,200 to $5,500 for the purchase of an electric vehicle, and when it is combined with similar incentive plans in many states the tax credits can pay for nearly the entire cost of a golf cart. Even in states that don’t have their own tax rebate plans, the federal credit is generous enough to pay for half or even two-thirds of the average sticker price of a cart, which is typically in the range of $8,000 to $10,000. “The purchase of some models could be absolutely free,” Roger Gaddis of Ada Electric Cars in Oklahoma said earlier this year. “Is that about the coolest thing you’ve ever heard?”

The golf-cart boom has followed an IRS ruling that golf carts qualify for the electric-car credit as long as they are also road worthy. These qualifying golf carts are essentially the same as normal golf carts save for adding some safety features, such as side and rearview mirrors and three-point seat belts. They typically can go 15 to 25 miles per hour.

I live about 30 seconds from a good BBQ place. Maybe I should get one of these to keep me from, you know, walking.

Everytime I read a story like this, I die a little inside.

The Citizens Against Government Waste have released their 2008 Congressional Ratings, which puts members of Congress in one of six categories depending on how member voted with the taxpayer in a total of 48 votes, giving voters an extraordinarily adequate guide on who their friends are in Washington. Big government legislation like SCHIP, the stimulus package, the farm bill and the bailouts are among the votes scored.

According to the report, the average for the House is 35% and 38% in the Senate. The highest ranking member of the House is Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), voting 100% of the time in the interest of taxpayers. Thirty-four members, all Democrats, scored a 0%. The highest ranking Democrat was Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX), who is no longer in Congress, at 39%.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) had the best score in the upper chamber at 98%. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) scored the highest for a Democrat at 35%. Seventeen members, all Democrats scored 0%.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are also scored since they were members of the Senate last year. Obama only voted with taxpayers 15% of the time. Biden voted against taxpayers at every opportunity.

How did your delegation do?