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Taxpayers' Sad Song Congress's "12 Doozies of Christmas"by
Peter J. Sepp, Paul Gessing Dec 22, 2003 Some of
the more pleasant sounds of the holiday season have to be the rousing renditions
of favorite carols, coming from car radios, classrooms, and street corners
everywhere. Too bad politicians can't change their tiresome tune of "Hey,
Big Spender."
Recently
the U.S. House of Representatives passed an $820 billion "Omnibus Appropriations
Bill," a hodge-podge of spending that was cobbled together after Congress
missed its self-imposed deadline for completing work on regular appropriations
legislation that funds the various departments of government. When the House
and Senate re-convene in January, a chorus of special interests will be singing
the praises of this massive legislation, but taxpayers will feel more like
singing a funeral dirge.
In this
spirit (and with apologies to the original, happier melody, "The Twelve Days
of Christmas"), we offer the following "Twelve Doozies of Christmas," courtesy
of the U.S. Congress:
One train a-chugging. The Omnibus
plan proposes $20 million for a light rail system in Puerto Rico -- where residents
pay no U.S. income tax. That's a gift U.S. taxpayers might want to return,
not exchange.
Two states partying. A total of $450,000
was set aside for Alaska's statehood celebration and $250,000 for Hawaii's
shindig. With the two states' golden anniversaries still a few years
away -- 2004 is only the 45th anniversary for both states -- how
much more "gold" will taxpayers be expected to give?
Three colors flashing. Red, yellow
or green, federal taxpayers are putting up $150,000 of "green" for a stoplight
in New York.
Four acres of tropics. Many Americans
will be steamed to learn they're about to pay $50 million for the Environmental
Education Project, which will develop an indoor tropical rain forest in Iowa.
Five states of apple trees.
Congress pruned taxpayers for $450,000 on behalf of the Johnny Appleseed Heritage
Center -- to memorialize the man who planted apple trees throughout Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Six centuries of acting. Roll
over, Shakespeare -- taxpayers will fund the $110,000 "ticket" for restoration
of a renaissance theatre in New York.
Seven bus routes bustling. Maybe
not so bustling after all, considering that the $75,000 proposed for the North
Pole Transit System in Alaska would serve an area inhabited by 1,680 people.
Eight hands a-pulling. A $200,000
hand-pulled tram is slated for McCarthy Creek, Alaska, (population 42 according
to the U.S. Census), if the Omnibus bill is signed into law without revision.
Nine days a-counting. It might take
some folks that long to count to 900,000, the number of dollars proposed for
expansion of the Sacajawea Cultural and Arts Center in Salmon, Idaho ($300
for each of the city's 3,000 residents).
Ten candidates talking. The field
of Presidential contenders may be narrowing soon, but taxpayers will still
fund the festivities at the Republican and Democratic Party conventions.
The Omnibus provides $50 million for security costs at these two events alone
(no word on funding for the Libertarian or Green Party meetings).
Eleven ladies kicking. Continuing
the tax-funded tradition for the men's event, this year's legislation proposes
$1.8 million for the Women's World Cup soccer match.
Twelve ... This sad song should mercifully
end at twelve, but Congress didn't oblige. The Omnibus spending bill
contains literally hundreds of questionable items, large and small: from a
$200,000 grant on behalf of an educational program at the Rock N' Roll Hall
of Fame Museum, to billions in funding for perpetually-troubled agencies like
Amtrak and AmeriCorps.
Rejecting
this Omnibus bill and sending it back for significant cost reductions would
allow Congress to start off the New Year with a resolution to maintain fiscal
responsibility. Better yet, lawmakers should enact legislation requiring
a regular review process that will "sunset" obsolete and wasteful federal
programs. Now, that would be music to taxpayers' ears.
About the Authors
Gessing is Director of Government Affairs for the 350,000-member National
Taxpayers Union (NTU), a non-partisan citizen group founded in 1969 to work
for lower taxes, less wasteful spending, and accountable government. Sepp
is Vice President for Communications with NTU. Write to them at 108 N. Alfred
St., Alexandria, VA 22314 or visit www.ntu.org. |
