How Congess Wastes Our Time.

slugshooter · July 19, 2005

Was reading an article in GQ the other day and felt they had a lot of pertinent information as to how the recent Congressional sessions spent their time and our tax dollars on certain issues. I'm leaving out the unneccesary commentary.

The following is the total number of days Congress spent debating issues, going to committee and holding hearings.

21 Days on current Boy Scouts of America issues

14 Days investigating Abu Ghraib prison scandal

33 Days dealing with the Janet Jackson **** display

19 Days discussing the underfunding of the No Child Left Behind Act.

27 Days on discussing a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage

28 Days to decide to send aid to the people of Darfur being threatened with genocide.

7 Days discussing the use of steroids in baseball

0 Days discussing ethical violations of their own members.

Here's some more highlights.

John Peterson (R- PA) defending Congessional spending of $100,000 for the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center, brought Punxsutawney Phil to the capitol last December, Phil peed on the table.

The 2004 Energy Bill included a $180 MILLION DOLLAR subsidy to support a mall in Bossier City, LA that was to house a Hooters. Billy Tauzin (R-LA) is thought to have been the one to include the subsidy. The "Hooters and Polluters" Bill never passed.

Alaska is set to receive $2.2 BILLION from the 2004 Highway Bill to build two bridges, 1 leading to a town with 50 people and a tiny airport(already have ferry service) and the other bridge to a port housing one person.

In 2004, $50 MILLION was put toward the construction of an indoor rain forest in Iowa. The bills sponsor, Senator Charles Grassley(R-IA) claims it will bring $120 Million in tourism dollars.

CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTIONS

HR 274- John Stocktons retirement from basketball.

Jim Matheson(D-Utah)

HR 280- Roger Clemens 300th win

John Sweeney(R-NY)

SR 452- December 13,2004, The "National Day of the Horse."

Ben Nighthorse Campbell(R-CO_

HR 315- Rafael Palmeiros 500th Home Run

Pete Sessions(R-TX) (I expect there will be one touting Palmeiros recent 3,000 hit milestone.)

SR 280- San Jose Earthquakes MLS Championship

Barbara Boxer(D-CA)

SESSION TIME

In 1942, during World War II, Congress spent a combined total of 363 days in session.

In 1951 during the Korean War, the combined total was 335

In 1971 during Vietnam, the total was 349

In 2004, during the War on Terror and War in Iraq, the total was.................243.

PORKERS

Ted Stevens(R-Alaska) brought in $645.5 Million in pork money to his state. Thats $71.6 Million more than closest competitor Hawaii and $407.9 Million more than the nations most populous state of California.

Jim Moran(D-VA) Secured a $25,000 loan from a drug company lobbyist whose bill he co-sponsored 5 days later. Accepted a $447,000 debt consolidation package from a credit card company he has long supported.

Billy Tauzin(R-LA) As chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, made sure that Americans pay the highest prescription drug prices. Immediately after crafting Medicares prescription drug benefit, which prohibits the government from negotiating discounts with pharmaceutical companies, got himself a job with a drug lobbywith a $2 Million salary. He is currently responsible for the ads warning Americans not to use drugs from Canada because Al Qaeda could "use a bunch of fake Viagra tablets to get Anthrax into the country."

JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS

% of Clinton nominees confirmed 71

% of Bush nominees confirmed 67

# of Bush's confirmed 208

# of Bush's blocked by threat of filibuster 10

# of Clintons confirmed 377

# of Clintons blocked 61

# of Clinton nominees Frist tried to filibuster 1

% of Americans who don't think filibuster

rules should be changed 59

% of Americans who think the rules should

be changed 28

oldksnarc · July 19, 2005