Senseless Sensenbrenner 

So while some members of Congress are looking at current events, and seeing how we can cut the budget to pay for Katrina (and now probably Rita) relief:

Six GOP senators, including McCain, called for a five percent cut in all non-defense, non-entitlement spending - such as Medicare and Social Security - to free up money for hurricane relief.

And they made clear that they want Bush to lead the way in advocating spending cuts and that he must do more than he's done so far.

"This group is calling on the president to join us, to be fiscally responsible, to show some leadership on specific proposals for offsets," said Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.

"We're giving him some cover," said Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla.

Ensign, Coburn and their GOP allies called for a two-year delay in the start of Bush's Medicare prescription drug benefit which is set to launch next year. Under their proposal, benefits would go only to the low-income elderly for 2006 and 2007.

"The opportunity is now," McCain said.

"People are beginning to realize we can not sustain this level of spending, particularly in light of these emergencies."

"We have a Category Five fiscal disaster with Social Security and Medicare and just like Katrina, it's predicted, it's inevitable, and in the case of these man-made disasters, we even know the date," Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., told reporters.

My representative, Jim Sensenbrenner, is bragging today about how he just supported a bill to spend almost $7 billion this year on head start programs.

With the recent start of the new school year, Americans have focused much attention on our youth. As kids adjust to new teachers, bright yellow buses, new subjects and extracurricular activities, it is essential that they be well prepared for the upcoming year. Kids need the best resources, teachers, curriculum and encouragement to succeed in school and in life. On September 22, I was pleased to watch the House pass H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act, with my support. I believe this act will help Wisconsin children, and roughly one million kids across the country, thrive at an early age and continue to excel as they further their schooling.

Of course when I look up H.R. 2123, I find out how much it is going to cost, a fact that Jim has conveniently forgotten to mention:

SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out the provisions of this subchapter $6,899,000,000 for the fiscal year 2006 and such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

(b) SPECIFIC PROGRAMS- From the amount appropriated under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make available not more than $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2007 through 2011 to carry out such other research, demonstration, and evaluation activities, including longitudinal studies, under section 649, of which not more than $7,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2011 to carry out impact studies under section 649(g).

Now... I'm not saying this wasn't needed. Realistically, this bill was continuing the funding on an existing program. However, from the sounds of it, this will also expand the program. That's not good Jim. Either way... you sure as hell shouldn't be bragging about it. How about bragging about how you're going to bring fiscal responsibility back to Congress, and sign a commitment to cut back on unneeded expenditures Jim. How about bragging about how you're pouring over the federal budget looking for ways to bring relief to hurricane ravaged areas without increasing the deficit, or burdening the taxpayer with even more taxes, by reducing pork?

Now that would be something to brag about. Why am I not surprised that this is not something you choose to do?