Our politicians are criminals. Vote them all out.

Then just give the money to the troops. What other "sport" (and I use that term loosely regarding NASCAR) gets buckets of cash from the Feds?

We just voted them in

Seriously, Nascar? One of the most branded profitable industries. They don't deserve a dime!

This report says "the so-called fiscal cliff"..... wait..... the media made up the term. Whatever...the media has already fallen off the cliff and trying to pull us down with them.

Well? They reneg on their promises...why can't we do the same thing?

Sorry, we didn't mean to take more of your money for unnecessary bonuses and perks.

Sorry, I didn't mean to vote on you...I meant the other guy.

Vote them out? Where the hell was your brain in the past elections? Up your a--? I have been saying this for years, but all you idiots do is vote for them and sit here and whine. You people are all so stupid!!! This is way they took so long to vote on this bill, they were trying to get all their crap in there. You idiots are all posting about nascar, what about the raises they are voting for themselves. You people worry me.

vote out all incumbents.....that's what I did.

.

People keep voting the same crooks into office over and over again. It takes time for the politicians to learn to get this crooked and steal from the taxpayers.

AgaintTheGrains

As porky would say

Th-th-th-that's all, folks!

Or, as our duly elected representatives were probably saying to each other,

"Be vewy vewy quiet."

jw101

vote out all incumbents.....that's what I did.

That's the best idea I've seen posted in a while. Unless and until these profligate congresspeople realize there is a cost associated with their spendthrift ways, it will continue.

"By taking the clock down to 00:00 and backing itself into a corner, Congress "missed this magic moment to do something big to reduce the deficit, reform our tax code and fix our entitlement programs,"

Congress, damned if you do damned if you don’t! Can anyone imagine the outcry if the “compromise” was not agreed on? The whole nation would be up in arms, blaming the Republicans in Congress, of course, for sabotaging the deal. The President and the Democrats in the Senate have it all worked out. They keep on spending, they could not care less about the debt and at every opportunity blame the Republicans for the mess.

We are all indeed well and truly stuffed!!

Come on liberals, where is all the outrage over tax breaks for the rich? Democrats in the Senate wrote this bill behind closed doors, and look at how it turned out. Of course it has to be passed first before everyone could find out what was in it, and low and behold it is stuffed with corporate welfare courtesy of Democrats. There is endless outrage when Republicans do it, and rightly so, now lets hear the same condemnation from liberals over the actions of their own party.

And the liberals thought they had done something...Really stuck it to those rich, greedy, corporate types. Congress used the "crisis" to slip through a bunch of pork and corporate deductions.

You whine about big oil...well, that's just the tip of the ice berg for all the kickbacks handed out by govt that the middle class has to pay for.

Good job liberals....Let me guess, "it's George Bush's fault."

and our leaders in congress just don't get it yet. we need to vote all the leaders in congress out so a new beginning can take over

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, called the deal "a big gift-wrapped present of certainty to the middle class."special-interest groups

Debbie....STFU!!! Crawl back under your rock and stay there!

I don't see why anyone is making this a GOP vs Dem thing..... every last one of those aholes just wasted Billions of our dollars when they were supposed to be cutting this kind of crap.....

vote everyone out regardless of party... fire these jerks....

"What other "sport" (and I use that term loosely regarding NASCAR) gets buckets of cash from the Feds?"

How about the NFL? It operates as a non-profit so that taxes on "profits" can be avoided.

Politicians only care about 1. getting elected. 2. Getting reelected. The best legislature money can buy!

Okay all you idiots, now, have you ever noticed that these elected crooks that you vote for time and time, when they take office, they swear on the bible. Just like your president. Now, have you ever noticed that it means nothing to them. It is all for show. These people swear to up hold the constitution and crap. None of them do. So, when these people swear on the bible, they are lying to your god as well as you. What great christians they are. How can you trust anyone of them when they stand there lying on the bible.

"Fiscal cliff deal includes at least $67.9 billion for special interests"

Disgusting. Whenever we have a 'fiscal crisis', the Democrats insist on loading it with PORK and then call the Republicans 'heartless' when they try to cut anything out.

And Obama waited until the last minute to give it to the Republican House, and "demanded an Up or down vote - no amendments allowed", threatening to demonize the Republicans for shoving us off the cliff if they resisted.

Oh well, this is what the American people voted for when they reelected Obama, so I guess they get what they deserve. We're 'lurching' towards that fiscal cliff that we cannot cure - Greek style Insolvency.

Evil, your own leader stated in the article this was a tremendous gift to the middle class. How could it be if it was written by the GOP?

What I have a problem with is that we have locked in tax rates for 99% of the eligible taxpayers. Democrats are fond of saying that the economy did ok when Clinton was president under the higher tax rates and we balanced the budget.

The increased rates on the 1% of taxpayers covered in the bill is estimated to generate revenues of $62 billion per year. Our deficit is $1 trillion per year. A huge gap. The bill closes about 6% of that gap.

The President states that we can't just cut our way out of this mess. Now that we have locked in the tax rates for 99%, and it only made a dent of 6%, what choice do we have but to cut our way out.

And despite what Obama says, it has become apparent that Sen Reid and Rep Pelosi will not agree to modifications to SS or Medicare. The only options are significant cuts (not just rate of growth cuts), revise the tax code to eliminate deductions (on everyone), and to increase payroll taxes (that would be the withholding for SS and Medicare).

If we can come even close to balancing the budget, there is much more cutting and taxing to do. And this will be on more than the wealthy. I think the Democratic chairwomans words are amazing......this will be a nightmare of a package for the middle class and it will start to become evident in a few years.

Evil Tess....- You're blaming the GOP for a Democrat bill from a Democrat Senate and signed by a Democrat president...

Wow.......Let me guess..."It's George Bush's fault".

At least Magnum gave Obama some shame for signing it.

Why would I vote out my representative? He did exactly what I wanted him to do, he voted against this bill. Not because he is an obstructionist, but because his constitutants sent him there to cut spending. He votes against the republican party as much as he votes for them. But he always votes based on the reasons he got elected.

When he voted against it, he was called a traitor, and teaparty terrorist, everything in the world to libel him. But now you find out that this was not a good peice of legislation and you want me to vote him out. Sorry, I'll keep the only guy in Washington who has kept his word on every vote. I may not like the way he votes everytime, but he has never lied to me, and that is much better than him agreeing with me everytime.

TC

And not one single penny of this pork is for a Democrat's constituents. ROFLMAO!!!

So Obama is taxing everyone, not just the rich, and he expects the lower income he taxed to pay for this pork.

ROFLMAO!!!!

The Evil Tessmacher

Apparently, no one read anything about all the pork that was included in this bill. Almost all of it came from the GOP.

Nascar is GOP? Hollywood is GOP? For the love of GOD….WAKE UP!!! This came from the LIBERALS, not the GOP…why do you think they voted AGAINST it???

"It's hard to think of anything that could feed the cynicism of the American people more than larding up must-pass emergency legislation with giveaways to special interests and campaign contributors," he said. "And this growing cynicism — largely justified in my view — will make it harder for us to deliver the tough medicine needed to address our crushing national debt."

When the REAL fiscal cliff comes in the near future - Greek style Insolvency, at least McCain will be able to say "I told you so".

And the CBO now says that OBAMACARE will add over $2 Trillion to the Debt over 10 years - not the $100 Billion advertized by the Democrats when they used chicanery to pass it with zero bipartisan support.

This is what the American voters chose, so they are the ones that have to live with it. By the way;

Why did Obama win?

Obama increased the number of people dependent on the government for assistance (the number of people getting food stamps, free health care and/or cash aid increased from about 30 million in 2008 to about 47 million in 2012). That's an increase of about 17 million getting 'free' assistance from the government.

Obama then told these people that “If Romney is elected, he will take away your food stamps”.

Obama won this group by about 11 million votes, while Romney won the group that pays the income taxes to fund the welfare by about 6 million votes – Net win for Obama = 5 million votes.

Simple, but effective.

Just a note for GovtReform....racing IS a sport. That's why the stick and ball crowd play 'games'. Can't call a time out for a sprained pinky finger. But they still don't need bailout money. It's a form of entertainment, just like the stick and ballers. We allowed them to become major profit centers thereby ingraining themselves as an integral part of the economy. But we don't need ANY sport, or game, to survive as a species.

hmmm I guess in Washington there isn't an issue with spending too much. Clearly the Democrats think the Republicans are crazy wanting cuts in spending. Hell lets just go all the way...unlimited debt ceiling! Screw our kids and grandkids... Its all about me and I want my cut... I'm going for it!

Its time for a third party focused on reality and not the games in DC. Its time for term limits so that politicians aren't focused on building their empires and personal wealth. Its time for change - and not the change Obama has in mind...

Tessmacher, all this pork came from the GOP?? Hollywood - a conservative bastion??? Leading asparagus growing states - Michigan, California and Washington - conservative states?????

This is progressive pork with a liberal glaze.

clwyd...the bill came from the Senate...guess who controls that house of Congress. I'll give you a hint, it ain't the Republicans

So in other words almost all of the new revenue raised by the tax increase on the rich went right back out the door in pork spending to special interest groups. No wonder we are going bankrupt as a nation. Why in the world should anyone get a tax break for buying an expensive toy like a Segway?!?! Why is the federal government giving money away to a very well financed and profitable "sport" like NASCAR?!?! This is completely absurd!!!

I recently saw that Charlotte gets about 10 million dollars generated from each race. I didn't know it came from the government.

Once again the Deficit reduction piece was lost in the equation, It would be nice to know where all those Pro-Obama comments are. Its time to vote all of these bums out of office, I mean ALL DEMOCRATS and ALL REBUBLICAINS, all of them have proven that We the People are just words.

67 billion, is that all. You should all feel lucky. The majority of those "so called" perks are there to support jobs in our own country. Take the time to read fro once before spouting things that make you look like an idiot. The same people who voted these idiots into office or refused to vote them out. Where are your complaints about the 100s of billions we are sending to Iraq and Afganistan to help them rebuild so that the Taliban and insurgents can just blow it up the week after it is built, or did you not know that is what is going on? Oh, that's right, you believe what the media tells you and believe what they say is right and wrong. We are sending money to these holes in the ground to try and make them our friends, billions more than any of you are aware of and it is also buried in bills like this. Here is another one: gas prices here on the east coast hit 3.09 a gallon the week before Christmas. The day before Christmas they jumped to 3.15, week after 3.19, and New years eve 3.23 a gallon. Within two weeks, 22 cents a gallon and it cost the big oil companies nothing more to buy a barrel. When are they going to turn the screws on those idiots?? Yet, none of you notice any of that, you choose to run off at the mouth about whether the Republicans or the Democrats are at fault for every disease on the planet and point blame. We have been pointing blame at the other side for over 4 years and it has gotten us nowhere. Who gives a crap whose fault it is, make your elected officials fix the problems. Or just keep whining that Nascar got a couple of years more in tax breaks at the tracks. No shootings at the races, no molesting of children, no terrorist threats. Regardless of your opinion of it, they do good things for this country and that is what we should be supporting and allowing to thrive.

It should come as o surprise that the two largest tax expenditures -- by far -- are Democratic pets...Big Green and Hollywood.

Tax and spend...tax and spend...tax and spend...repeat.

I notice that 'Feisty Redhead/Pigotry' (same person, different names?) hasn't posted on this story - I wonder why? She's usually first in posting.

Perhaps because she/he would have to try to justify what the Democrats did?

C'mon Roy, Feisty is just trying to figure out how to spin it.

"The majority of those "so called" perks are there to support jobs in our own country." - gunner

This is just a lie. The largest slab of pork by far is to the green energy industry. As has been shown in European countries that rely heavily on green energy, they do so at a net job loss. The green energy replaces conventional energy and fewer green energy jobs are created than are lost in the conventional energy sector. So the largest tax expenditure the Dems carved out comes with job losses.

"It's hard to think of anything that could feed the cynicism of the American people more than larding up must-pass emergency legislation with giveaways to special interests and campaign contributors,"

The only thing John McCain ever said that I agree with.

The Republican'ts scream and foam at the mouth that Social Security, and Welfare should be cut...

Then the Republican'ts turn around and give generous Welfare to the Billionaires and Trillionares and Big Wig Business and the Filthy Rich Investors (Not the Citizen Investors).

Shame on the Grand Obstructionist Party, Shame on Obama for signing this bill.

And thats my opinion

your opinion ain't worth spit. How can you call the GOP obstructionist for not wanting to pass this cliff deal, then rag on them for what the deal gives away?

Think before you write!

God, I wish foreign lenders would cut us off.

America needs a spending intervention.

"Perhaps because she/he would have to try to justify what the Democrats did?" - ROY WILSON

Are you kidding Roy. It's because she's flying out to Hollywood to start work on the film about the wind farm she's going to put on her new asparagus fields.

Mike in SA "It should come as o surprise that the two largest tax expenditures -- by far -- are Democratic pets...Big Green and Hollywood."

They put Warren Buffett to shame. He gets about 30% Return on Investment (ROI), but Hollywood/Big Green invests $100 Million in Obama and they get $5 Billion in return. That's a ROI of about 5000%.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, called the deal "a big gift-wrapped present of certainty to the middle class."

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course, only a brain-dead Liberal/Progressive like Debbie Whatsername Slutz can see this criminal abuse of tax payer’s dollars as a “gift”.

The extensions will actually cost much more: Not only were they made retroactive to cover 2012, but some of the breaks and credits will be in effect for 10 years.

This is the essence of the criminals we have in Washington. They have ALL perfected the art of fraud and embezzlement. I guarantee you NONE of these extensions will be reviewed over those 10 years to determine if they are benefitting the economy. This is the reason EVERY piece of legislation MUST have a “Sunset Clause” added to it to be reviewed every 2 years to see if there is any significant improvement with the legislation.

Barrack Husseins continuing lies as far as his administration being “transparent” were exposed last month when it released its “regulatory agenda” in typical Liberal/Progressive “Friday night document dump” style.

This is when the administration releases certain information, they know will lead to a bad news cycle, late on a Friday night to avoid an enraged electorate. The criminal Obama administration took this one step better and released the information on the Friday before Christmas, the deadest of the dead news periods of the entire year. This information is required to be released twice a year. Barrack Hussein refused to even publish a regulatory agenda in the spring in typical defiance of the law.

Here’s the reason why Barrack Hussein continues to lie to the American people and our economy continues to collapse.

In the first 3 years of Barrack Husseins presidency he has approved nearly four times as many major regulations as Bush. This with most of the Obamacare and Dodd-Frank regulations yet to be released. Barrack Hussein also quietly postponed releasing several multibillion-dollar regulations until after the election. In typical Liberal/Progressive fashion to avoid enraging the electorate. Of course Liberals can’t understand why businesses aren’t hiring when tens of thousands of irrational regulations keep raining down and destroy commerce. But then again, Barrack Hussein doesn’t care as long as he can control the weak-minded unwashed masses that voted for him. Little do they know his agenda is to keep them under the thumb of Big Government in a desperate attempt to prove social and economic justice for the collective works if forced on the useful idiots.

Do you think the April and October reports were deliberately ignored until after the elections for a reason? Of course they were, so the illiterate masses wouldn’t be exposed to the frightening cost that this administration is placing on the economy.

The American Action Forum places initial estimates of implementing the costs of these regulations alone at $123 billion.

Completing the paperwork could require more than 13 million man hours from businesses.

The federal government has issued more than 5,500 new regulatory proposals in just the last 90 DAYS!!!!

The SBA recently reported that regulation costs American business $1.75 TRILLION per year, and cost small businesses, those with fewer than 20 workers, $10,585 per employee, or 36% more than paid by large businesses, those with 500 or more.

And now we have one pork-filled bill after another being created by this administration after Barrack Hussein promised he would go line by line and eliminate any earmarks added to his signed bills.

The Barrack Hussein lies just continue and the brain dead Liberals/Progressives accept them as usual.

And we wonder why the economy remains stagnant?

MSN is missing this:

Obama “ green friends” $59 million in tax credits for algae growers, who are trying to find a way to produce a bio-fuel from the plant.

Congress voted to continue to give 10 percent of the cost of the electric vehicle - up to $2,500 in tax credits to individuals who purchase plug-in wheels

For Obama friends in Hollywood $15 million in breaks for filming in the U.S., $20 million for filming in low-income areas, an incentive for Hollywood that costs the country about $430 billion to maintain.

For Obama’/Tim Gaithner / Wall Street friends. Sec. 328 extends “tax exempt financing for York Liberty Zone,” The Fine Print, Goldman Sacks got $1.6 billion in tax free financing for its new massive headquarters through Liberty Bonds.

Why MSN do not publish all the 67 Billions of pork.

Show of hands for anyone surprised by this?? Anyone? Anyone?

We've got to PASS this legislation so we can FIND OUT what's in it......

Wondering about the reading comprehension skills of Congress

Never let a crisis go to waste- that's what Rahm told Obama, and he took it as gospel. What a joke you liberal fools who voted a failed president back in for another 4 years of failure. Pathetic Obama leg humpers.

jw101

Our politicians are criminals. Vote them all out.

LOL....That opportunity just passed, and to rub salt into your wound, they installed Boehner back as speaker. That show's those who voted for them who's the REAL bosses out there: BIG businesses, and their lobbyists.

Mitt Romney tried to tell the American people that we could increase revenues, save money, and balance the budget by removing loopholes from the tax code that are either out of date or just plain non-sense.

But, Obama and his disciples shouted him down, and here we are giving large corporations the continued opportunity to hide their earnings offshore, tax breaks to Hollywood (like "Hollywood really NEEDS a tax break), NASCAR, Bacardi, and the Jolly Green Giant.

What's more, take a look at your own paychecks today, people. The payroll tax rollback that we've enjoyed for the last couple of years is now expired. All of us will lose a good chunk of change because of that.

Obama kept yelling that Romney's "math just (wasn't) there."

Well folks, tell me where Obama's math is today, when you see a substantial reduction in your take home pay.

You "F"ing idiots just would not listen, and now you're going to pay for it out of your own pockets.

I guess it's true what they say; "you get the leaders you deserve."

America just got RAPED!

Isn't it amazing that even a bill that is supposed to raise revenue and cut spending ends up being a spending bill? We really need to get rid of term limits folks, so that Congressmen and Senators can quit focusing on campaign contributions for re-election and start doing what's right. Our system is broken. Completely and utterly broken. Both sides are controlled by special interests... They are just DIFFERENT special interests (and some of them common special interests).... Oil companies, banks, unions, medical companies, insurers, etc. All have a stronger voice now than "We, the People".

Our founding fathers envisioned a government where we would elect the wisest and fairest among us to represent us, but somewhere along the line it all got hijacked by those who figured out how to manipulate it all for their own purposes. Maybe 200 years is the lifespan of a democratic republic... I don't know. But it seems clear at this point that every senator, congressman, and president (and now even the judicial to a great extent) is unduly influenced by outside sources.....

Just look at who voted for it, and vote those people out of office. the ones that voted against it should be reelected. Not all of them are bad, and I would hate to throw out the good member of Congress with the bad. It means we voter have to study the issues. That means taking the bad members to task, reguardless of party. Debbie Wasserman Shultz is a prime example. This quote from above article says it all

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, called the deal "a big gift-wrapped present of certainty to the middle class."

They gave us what we already had, and call it a present to US. How absurd is that? I guess the air we breath is also a present to us from them. Mentality like hers is what is wrong with this country, Yet she is given more power to control us. But as bad as they are we are worse, because we willingly continue to reelect them. They know this, that is why they promise the voters what they want just before elections then screw us right after the elections, because we do not remember these moments. That is why for example people want flat taxes with no deductions to help curb this type of thing. But no the middle class and the poor want to keep sticking it to the rich. So the President and Congress take way a few pennies from them and give it back to them in the form of dollars. As fools we are parted from out money again. It wouldn't be so bad if we didn't dance in the streets being so happy about getting the shaft again.

Our tax code is insane. It's thousands of pages of nonsense meant to make it "more fair" for certain groups. Each time they make it more fair for some one, it's less fair for someone else. So they add on and try to make it more fair for the people they just screwed.

The tax code should read, "All income is taxed at XX%"

End of story.

SabotAndHeat "God, I wish foreign lenders would cut us off."

They already have for all practical purposes - In fact, China has 'cashed in' about $200 Billion of their loans to the Treasury Department over the last year - they know that the value of the Dollar will drop in the near future. Our Debt is now being financed by just having the Fed 'create' money to loan to the government - they are now 'buying' about $85 Billion of new Debt each month to finance this spending spree - effectively just 'printing' the money needed out of nothing.

When Inflation hits, most people's 'savings' will be virtually wiped out.

I can't believe that 'investors' could be so dumb as to loan money on a relatively long term basis right now - I guess they have no clue what's about to hit them. Of course, Obama will laugh, because the people that will lose their 'investments' are the very same 'rich' people that he spends most of his time 'Demonizing'.

A 'Perfect Storm' is brewing in the financial sector.

This was both democrats and republicans. Just a little seasoning in the gruel. WAAAA,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,waah,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha. Bunch of good ole boys. Never really meant anything they said. Waaaaaa, ha,ha,ha,ha,ha.

So... what was the point of raising taxes on the high dollar earners if this was going on at the same time? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? If the Fiscal Bill had this kind of pork, what exactly does the Sandy Bill have? *shakes my head*

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, called the deal "a big gift-wrapped present of certainty to the middle class."

That was close, but more correctly, it was "a big gift-wrapped present of certainty to Democratic special interests".

Gotta 'reward' them for their contributions to Obama, just like much of the 'Stimulus' Bill went to those who contributed to Obama in 2008 (Unions, SOLYNDRA, etc.).

Tax breaks are not pork, nor are they "subsidies". The money that individuals and corporations earn belongs to THEM, not the damned putrid F'ing Federal Government.

I do not exist to seve the state. My labor is not the property of the pile of dog sh!t Federal Government. I am not the personal ATM of the Federal Government. The role of the Federal Government is not to decide how much of what one earns that they should be able to keep.

The role of the tax code is to fund the legitimate Constitutionally authorized functions of government, NOT to use the tax code as a behavior modification tool to elicit a Pavlovian response that the idiots in the Federal Government deem to be acceptable.

I understand the need for government. I have NO objection to paying my taxes for the legitimate Constitionally authorized functions of that government, and gladly do so. But, I have a HUGE objection to the government using the tax code as a tool of punishment and manipulation for the purposes of confiscating wealth for income equality, or in order to fund their every spending whim.

Anyone who thinks tax breaks are either corporate welfare or subsidies is stupid beyond belief. An absolute anti American F'ing moron. This country was founded in large part to free men from the tyranny of government, not to serve it. The pile of dog sh!t Federal Government does NOT own my money, my labor, or my life. The damned Federal Government can F**K OFF and go to Hell!!!

Now we know why Obama told the Republicans in the House;

"I want a straight Up or Down vote in the House - NO AMENDMENTS OR CUTS ALLOWED."

Moshulu

jw101

Our politicians are criminals. Vote them all out.

LOL....That opportunity just passed, and to rub salt into your wound, they installed Boehner back as speaker. That show's those who voted for them who's the REAL bosses out there: BIG businesses, and their lobbyists.

It comes from Obama and the Senate. Stop blaming Republicans.

Some of these are just what tax incentives are designed to do - encourage investment (electric vehicles), and protect US industries from foreign subsidies (asparagus, movies). The rest of it is special interest BS and why corruption needs to be punished harshly.

News Flash: NASCAR race tracks are NOT owned by poor people!

Nor was this a "Democrat" bill - it was a bipartisan bill, negotiated by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell & the VP, and which was approved by an overwhelming majority of Republican Senators.

If it has pork, I imagine some was added by both sides, else the Senate Republicans would not have agreed to it.

(Trying to claim this was all due to one side or the other is beyond idiotic. As people in Red States already know, NASCAR is hard-core Republican, trying to claim otherwise makes about as much sense as claiming Todd Akin is Pro-Choice! LOL!)

Some of the stuff (like continuing R&D tax credits), were already known to be part of the deal.

What I am more concerned about is this bit about encouraging corporations to "offshore" some of their business (and jobs) in order to get tax deferrals???

Isn't that heading us in the wrong direction??? I thought we wanted to encourage businesses to keep/move jobs here to the USA?!

ROY WILSON-336103

Why did Obama win?

Obama increased the number of people dependent on the government for assistance (the number of people getting food stamps, free health care and/or cash aid increased from about 30 million in 2008 to about 47 million in 2012). That's an increase of about 17 million getting 'free' assistance from the government.

Obama then told these people that “If Romney is elected, he will take away your food stamps”.

Obama won this group by about 11 million votes, while Romney won the group that pays the income taxes to fund the welfare by about 6 million votes – Net win for Obama = 5 million votes.

Simple, but effective.

Hi Roy, I would still like your feedback on this.

The charts I saw suggest that Senior Citizens voted for Romney over Obama. Are we not considering them to be getting "free" assistance from the government? What about military families we subsidize? They also voted for Romney over Obama.

Are we only discussing food stamps? The states using food stamps the most heavily are Oregon, New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Maine, each clocking between 16.5% and 20.6% in food stamp use.

Of those states, they are split in the following way: Democrat - Oregon, New Mexico, Maine, Michigan. Republicans took Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia.

What argument are you trying to paint here? Net votes don't matter when it comes down to the electoral college, of the states listed with the highest food stamp use, 8 of the top 12 had their electoral votes counted to Romney... that's a 2-1 margin of states receiving the most food stamps voting red.

Fiscal Cliff, was there really one? Maybe the government was doing their usual grandstanding. They were trying to show that they were doing something for a change. If you notice, every year this happens, every year. They do the count down thing. Well, not impressed. Since last year, they knew this was coming and they did nothing. Why? They did not do anything because they knew that they were going to screw us again as always and you fell for it. All they did was argue on who was going to get what. And as usual, they got what they wanted except for a few who are doing the bitching. They could have stopped wasteful spending right along, but did not and they never will. How much money could they have saved? NO, all a joke and it is on america.

GreatlyEntitled

So... what was the point of raising taxes on the high dollar earners if this was going on at the same time? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? If the Fiscal Bill had this kind of pork, what exactly does the Sandy Bill have? *shakes my head*

I have some news for you.

Sandy Relief scam, coming from the Democrat Controlled Senate is not different

The pork-barrel feast includes:

$8 million to buy cars and equipment for the Homeland Security and Justice departments.

$150 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to dole out to fisheries in Alaska

$2 million for the Smithsonian Institution to repair museum roofs in DC.

An eye-popping $13 billion would go to “mitigation” projects to prepare for future storms.

$207 million for the VA Manhattan Medical Center.

$41 million to fix up eight military bases along the storm’s path, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

$4 million for repairs at Kennedy Space Center in Florida

$3.3 million for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center

$1.1 million to repair national cemeteries.

$58.8 million for forest restoration on private land

$197 million “to… protect coastal ecosystems and habitat impacted by Hurricane Sandy.”

$10.78 billion for public transportation, most of which is allocated to future construction and improvements, not disaster relief.

LaserGuy445

News Flash: NASCAR race tracks are NOT owned by poor people!

Neither Hollywood , Obama supporters.

It's no wonder Hillary found safe haven in the hospital. She wants no association with this Washington budget debacle. I would bet Hillary stays out of Washington until after the Sandy pork barrel legislation is finished. Gotta keep those hands washed and that nose clean for that possible run in 2016. You don't see Bloomberg around either. He's doing photo ops on gun control to keep himself in the news.

It looks like special interest groups..in other words, big business still gets served while the rest of this nation suffers. Gee...so a millionaire gets a bit of a tax increase but then gets to write off millions from business...whaty a great country we have as long as you are among the wealthy few. And lets not forget anything associated with "pork" be sure there is more than enough of that that will get passed by both parties.

Feisty still has a hangover from Obama raising her taxes. Lighten up on the poor girl.

I just checked Faux News to see what their take is on this, they dont even have one article on their entire homepage about the fiscal cliff deal,

their headlining story right now is still harping about that map that some NY newspaper published about gun owners

their other main stories are as follows:

EPA DEFEAT - Judge says stormwater isn't runoff

DARING RESCUE - Teens stranded in lake!

AL ALWAKI - Booked flights for 9/11 Hijackers?

IS AL GORE a HYPOCRITE?

So for all you f'ing morons complaining about the left wing media, what's your side doing?!

The only comment that I can give at this moment is Oligarchy Triumphant!

It should come as o surprise that the two largest tax expenditures -- by far -- are Democratic pets...Big Green and Hollywood.

They were bashing the NASCAR break till they learned NASCAR is solid GOP then they drop it to bash Hollywood. Gotta love their consistency if nothing else. Republican pork=good, democratic pork=bad. Just FYI the special breaks for big oil far outweigh any subsidies or tax breaks for green energy. Green energy will last forever, when the oils gone you're left with a hole in the ground.

So they raise taxes.....then give a lot of the supposed income right back to special interest? LOL Thats our guys and gals of the DC machine that never saw a spending program they didn't like. And payback for hollywood support.

Dems are doing the exact thing i hear left leaning people on here hammering Reps for for months. Overseas tax breaks, Wall street easy money for Goldman Sachs, obvious hollywood cronyism, etc, etc. Where are these people today? I hear crickets! Their illustrious party they clamor for just took what was supposed to be a tax and debt relief bill and made it a pork bill that resembles everything they rail against here. So what does that do to the left talking points of oversea taxes, wall street cronyism, etc?

D MAN, Fox had coverage of it yesterday as i flipped through all the cable channels, as did CNN. Didn't see anything on MSNBC but i might have cought them in the wrong part of their news cycle as i didn't watch long.

Larry, none of it should have been in there, NASCAR included. And they are owned by rich guys, that doesn't jive with agendas?? The left just didn't rail against NASCAR like they did oversea tax breaks and wall street.....which is the irony. I don't think hardly any people that know anything at all about NASCAR don't know they are owned by rich Republicans.

We must be the laughing stock of the world, not the envy that we've all been led to believe.

This is how Washington works. They got the bill at 36 minutes past the hour and voted on it 3 minutes later. Is there any wonder why we're in the mess that we are in?

It would behoove us all to remember this at the next election. It must stop.

Seems as if ever move they make now, lays the groundwork for the next crisis.

When will these writers do a decent job with an article ?

NASCAR gets $70 million in tax breaks ... and they are the center focus of the article's beginning with a picture of the Charlotte Speedway in the background !

Hollywood producers get a whopping $430 MILLION in tax breaks (over 6 times as much pork) and they get a line buried in the middle of the article !! LOL !!! I guess this is payback for all the support that the Hollywood elite has given to perhaps the greatest "actor" of them all ... Barack Hussein Obama !!

Now, I can't wait for a Dem to talk about Republican pork ... the hypocrisy will be thick !

D.Man

I just checked Faux News to see what their take is on this, they dont even have one article on their entire homepage about the fiscal cliff deal.

I wonder why libis are so ......

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/02/fiscal-deal-includes-estimate-121-billion-in-tax-credits-for-wind-energy/?intcmp=related

Fiscal deal includes estimated $12.1 billion in tax credits for wind energy industry.

MSN is BIAS showing a picture of NASCAR race track. Why not a wind power plant, or a Movie Studio they are getting more money.

This truly is same sh*t, different day. Way to go, politicians. No change. Too many cooks in the kitchen. The system does not work.

oldhamletman

I don't see why anyone is making this a GOP vs Dem thing..... every last one of those aholes just wasted Billions of our dollars when they were supposed to be cutting this kind of crap.....

Agreed. The Ship of State is sinking fast, and all the passengers want to do is argue about whose fault it is we hit the iceberg.

The Constitution is outdated and just adding amendments can't fix it!

redvirginia,

Why not a picture of farmers they get the biggest % of entitlements for their size of any group in America! Considering they make up only 2% of the population!

Larry-367607

They were bashing the NASCAR break till they learned NASCAR is solid GOP then they drop it to bash Hollywood. Gotta love their consistency if nothing else. Republican pork=good, democratic pork=bad

Everybody knows Obama was afraid to visit a race track, and NASCAR is not Democrat ground , there was no drop. Another liberal lie. Pork is bad regardless it is goes to Green energy or Nuclear. Hollywood or NASCAR.

clwyd-2621393

redvirginia,

Why not a picture of farmers they get the biggest % of entitlements for their size of any group in America! Considering they make up only 2% of the population!

I have no problem, I don't thing Obama want to see the price of milk $ 7 a gallon.

When will "We The People" decide that Citizens United was a bad fu@king idea, and it was the brainchild of Corrupted Government by a group of Judges that make more money than most of us posting combined in a year. Taxes went up on the middle class, while the rich will still get their breaks. No one has the Middle Classes back, not the President who is more central than friggin Reagan, nor Congress that has been bought and paid for by "Corporate Donations" or as I call it, legalized Bribery.

I must however say that both parties played their parts perfectly, thinking that they have you covered, while trying to screw the other guy over. Guess what, both of you boobs got screwed and the rich got away with it, what will you do to fix our country? Bitch about it on a post?

Fiscal cliff deal includes at least $67.9 billion for special interests

Thank You president Obama and all of his liberal supporter in the senate in congress and GE, and many more interest group that Obama owes them. we all have to chip in on our payroll tax to support Obama friends. Oh I thought that only conservative had rich friends. Boy was my daughter the Liberal voter stupid.

Rex,

Of course the Bill came from the Senate as Bonehead Boehner walked away and told Reid and the Senate to come up with a Bill that would be voted up or down by the House. Since Meathead couldn't get his party to do anything again what do you expect?

So that's what Obama meant when he said he wants a "balanced approach". He was talking to the special interest groups, not every day Americans because they don't matter. That's what all Chicago politicians do since they all come from the most corrupt political machine in the Nation.

gregorio057

Fiscal cliff deal includes at least $67.9 billion for special interests

Thank You president Obama and all of his liberal supporter in the senate in congress and GE, and many more interest group that Obama owes them. we all have to chip in on our payroll tax to support Obama friends. Oh I thought that only conservative had rich friends. Boy was my daughter the Liberal voter stupid.

As long as you operate on the "Democrats are the problem" rather than "The House and The Senate are the problem", you're going to be selling credit for this colossal screw-up real short. This dereliction of responsibility is so screwed up it took two parties to craft it. When Reid and McConnell put their heads together and both agree on something it's either a totally necessary compromise or it's going to be a gigantic screwjob.

I know where my vote on this one goes.

What is Obama doing for the small working person? Last I heard was the there will be a small increase on the payroll tax this year to help Obama spend a little more.

So why does small business need help now? Big business says they need help, but when people need help ????? Where are our priorities only for the greedy business and corporate world?

BigATC

So what does that do to the left talking points of oversea taxes, wall street cronyism, etc?

It does what many of us have been saying for years, nothing.

Liberals/Progressives will sit here and whine like little girls about all the deregulation, tax loopholes and other abhorrence’s to their civilities they claim Republicans cause, yet when you ask them to provide details for ANY legislation predominantly passed by Republicans, they never answer. They just go about in their little fairy-tale world of Big Government and social/economic justice for the collective.

They have become so pathetically submissive to some inexperienced Ivy League faculty-lounge elitist who has read a few books they don't use common sense any longer.

Between their indoctrination by their incompetent parents, peers and teachers they're no longer capable of discerning fact from propaganda. This is their shame.

For some sad reason the Libbies are afraid to pursue their dreams and to be independent. They fear being self-sufficient and successful. It's probably because of their repeated failures in life. This is a very difficult problem to help Liberals fix.

We can only hope that when we really do go off the fiscal cliff in the future, and we will because we must, the Liberals/Progressives are able to take care of themselves because their sacrosanct government will only be interested in helping themselves.

Greed isn’t someone wanting to keep more of what they earn, its people demanding a greater share of money that someone else has earned.

And the public wonders why it took so long to get the "fiscal cliff" deal done. Same with the Sandy Relief bill - how far reaching was that storm to put money in for Alaska fisheries and Gitmo?

It should come as o surprise that the two largest tax expenditures -- by far -- are Democratic pets...Big Green and Hollywood.

Tax and spend...tax and spend...tax and spend...repeat

Right wingers like to argue both sides of every issue. You argue that allowing tax breaks in this bill to green energy and Hollywood is spending tax money but another right winger farther down is defending tax breaks for big oil as simply being allowed to keep more of their own money. Which is it? Why is tax breaks for big oil simply allowing them to keep their own money but to democratic favorites it's a giveaway?

It's much like the logic they used when Romney touted cutting funding for social programs 50 or 60 billion a year then proposed giving the military another 200 billion they weren't even asking for and beginning a new space program at 50 billion or so a year. If you added every outlay and every cut in Romney's 59 point plan spending increased far ahead of anything Obama proposed. The problem with republicans is as proven by Bush they're no more opposed to spending then democrats they just want to determine where it's spent. Every Bush deficit was bigger from one year to the next with his last October, 2008 budget hitting 1.2 trillion. That's why you can't sell it being democrats who are the spendthrifts. Explain why the deficit went from zero under Clinton, to 450 billion each and every following year till 2008 where it hit 1.2 trillion with never a word from republicans about it needing to be brought under control until a democrat won and we'll talk.

Fox news reported the other day: the Dow has gone up four consecutive years. The last time we had more then four years of increase in the Dow was from 1992 to 1999. ooops! want Clinton pres from 1992 till 2000? and Obama was pres for the last four years. So there saying dems are good for capitalism? lol say it ain't so say it ain't so.

Why does it not surprise me to see Hollywood on the freebie list, America you have been Electronically Pimped now give Obama his money and hit the streets more is needed of you. I voted for the other guy, saw this one coming. don't tell me the GOP did not fight this till the last Minuit, and all the whinny liberals bitched and cried well now you have something to bitch and cry about, it would have been better to go over the cliff. by the way that (fiscal cliff) is a term made up by your ruling media to scare you. isn't it nice the LSD (liberal Socialist Democrats) your new 3rd party got their way, please help your selves to some more kool aid its free! Nancy made it and its Berry approved.

Didn't Obama say he wanted to cut the "pork" out of Washington, yet he passes a bill drawn up by his Senate that has nothing but "pork" in it. Washington needs a rude awakening and we the people need to give it to them its not enough to just vote them out we need to do something that maybe they will understand. Something like the million man march to demand they live by the same rules they pass upon us! This crap that the Congress is doing is unacceptable! Washington is the dirtiest place with the sleaziest rich people on the face of the planet!!!

clwyd

Just about the only Nascar fans I know are Democrats. One of all of them might be a republican.

George John Paul

ANY good market analyst will tell you that the Market climbs 5 years, drops 2 years, climbs 5 years, drops 2 years.

OOPS your good news is about to end.

And a bigger oops, your boy's tax increases on the rich caused a pause of 2 years before tax bracket indexing was restored and took off at a higher rate when Capital gains was cut fro 28% to 20%.

Didn't know about that Did you?

Some presidents get more good years than others, it has little to do with the party.

This is why America is broken, and there ain't no fixing it.

Special Interest groups and Corporate lobbyists own our country. We don't. We haven't for decades now. Want to know when things changed for us? Go all the way back to the end of World War II. Look at the buildup of the Military-Industrial complex. Compare the average tax rates for middle class citizens beginning around 1948 to the present day and then compare those tax rates to what the upper-tier citizens and corporations paid.

What will you find? More and more of a burden placed upon the middle class shoulders to pay for our country's needs while the richest citizens and wealthiest corporations paid less and less. We really are becoming a nation where most of the citizens will become serfs to our corporate and wealthy overlords.

There's no fixing America, because democracy in America is an illusion now. Any bill that may get passed will be watered down and rendered ineffective by the special interest group that doesn't like it. Any tax reform that's passed will be created with as many loopholes as corporations and wealthy citizens can introduce into these measures.

It's over folks. Bitch all you want on these boards. Write your congressman or senator. Won't matter. Might as well yell at the sky for all the good it'll do you. Why? Because. To the wealthiest citizens and corporations a broken system is a profitable system.

Look at all of the liberals going after the $70 Million racetrack cost recovery program, yet ignoring the Hollywood $430 Million kickback. The Hollywood deal is SIX TIMES LARGER. Wow, pathetic.

1.115

HOLLYWOOD...our biggest EXPORT spends its' money in VANCOUVER BC to avoid USA restrctions.
TRUST ME
Ever look at what a film costs to make?

430 million to keep those crews here, in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and put the dollars for hairdressers, vans, food, costume workshops, printers, runners, lighting companies, grips, electricians, hotels, etc. MAKES SENSE.

This article is NEGLIGENT in NOT REPORTING whiich committees proposed these BILLS and what was their motivation.

$430 million is a lot of money, but if the return on that investment puts JOBS back in the USA, I'm ALL FOR IT>

Nascar is a liberal organization contrary to what you hear from the left.

It's funny how you right wingers try to throw your own under the bus all the time. 90% of Nascar fans are republicans. 99% of anyone involved on the business end are republicans. Don't get it confused just because all the cars do is turn left.

RV in GB#1

Look at all of the liberals going after the $70 Million racetrack cost recovery program, yet ignoring the Hollywood $430 Million kickback. The Hollywood deal is SIX TIMES LARGER. Wow, pathetic.

Because this is how it works. The media Liberal Democrat PR machine, publish a BIAS HEADLINE for all the misinformed Obama voters who don't care about the truth.

RI Mom

$430 million is a lot of money, but if the return on that investment puts JOBS back in the USA, I'm ALL FOR IT>

How much to bring the rest of the outsoursed jobs from the other industries, will you agree too, or is because it is Hollywood.........................

1.1118
redvirginia

Source Please

Hollywood employs a lot more people year round. Just saying...

The VANCOUVER film industry contributes over $1 billion annually to the economy of BC and employs almost 50,000 people.

Hollywood was first attracted by a favourable exchange rate and lucrative tax incentives offered by local and provincial governments.

Hmmm..... 430 MILLION vs ONE BILLION..... and that is just in Vancouver.

.
.
.REPLY TO REDVIRGINIA 1.118

Let me requote my initial remark from 1.115

This article is NEGLIGENT in NOT REPORTING whiich committees proposed these BILLS and what was their motivation.

.
.
A KNEE JERK reaction without exploring the genesis of any BILL is foolish.

We need to look at EACH ONE.... with a cost effective eye.

elayne-675382

Fiscal Cliff, was there really one?

Not for the middle class that every congressperson is supposedly so solicitous of. I, like so many of you, pay my taxes in April. As far as we are concerned, they had three months to fix it. Who would have been immediately affected by the sequestration? Oh, yeah ..... government workers.

This is the hypocrisy of the left, it is OK for Hollywood but not for the rest.

$430 Million is only to film on location in the U.S. It doesn't guarantee mass U.S. jobs.

You can bring in a foreign film crew, foreign actors, foreign anything. While I understand that hotels will get more guests, restaurants will get more customers, and local economies might get a little bit of a spike, you are not getting much for $430 Million.

FYI - the racetracks are in the U.S. as well. Races are the most attended sporting events in the U.S.

In my opinion, neither should get tax breaks. Taxes were raised on 77% of U.S. wage earners in the Fiscal Cliff negotiations. These two entities do not deserve the break that they are getting.

This is a Democrat bill....This is 100% Reid's fault and Obama's fault.

Can't blame Bush. Can't blame GOP. This is 100% the Democrat's fault.

ACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

How about the pork for small businesses in the Bill? $26,000,000,000 or something close to that?

I read about all the pork in the Bill on FOX, but nothing of how small greedy businesses will benefit! I guess that is what FOX calls, "Fair and Balanced?"

Paws,

LOL! Get some reality in your life! Where was Bonehead and the republicans so it would be their Bill too? Running away to come back and complain! Losers! Scum!

Surprised with the low spending cuts, anyone? As it stands today, the deal approved earlier this week resulted in US$1 of spending cuts for every US$41 in tax increases, making it possibly the most one-sided victory since the Battle of Little Bighorn. By comparison, when President Ronald Regan increased taxes, he secured US$3 in spending cuts for every US$1 in tax hikes. When George H. Bush was at the helm, he negotiated US$2 in spending cuts for every US$1 in tax hikes.

Most of the casualties in this battle royale are individuals with incomes of more than US$400,000 a year and couples making more than US$450,000 annually, but there will be significant pain and suffering for those with incomes as low as US$250,000 annually.

Also note that any hope of a tax system that treats married couples and single persons with some level of equality was blown away. Two single persons could earn US$800,000 combined before being smashed by the tax hikes, compared with only US$450,000 for a married couple. It's now up to us to interpret the strategies for addressing this on our own.

Liberal D. Man to Liberal clwyd

D.Man

I just checked Faux News to see what their take is on this, they dont even have one article on their entire homepage about the fiscal cliff deal.

clwyd-2621393

I read about all the pork in the Bill on FOX,

LOL

RV in GB#1

1.1124

Your FACTUAL SOURCE PLEASE.

Tax credits ABSOLUTELY DO TRANSLATE to added income in this case.

Maybe YOUR STATE doesn't film, but I guarantee, that States that do offer credits get most of Hollywood's filming opportunities.

Think you are in New England?.... NOPE...that was South Carolina!

Ohhh no...clwyd...You can't use that.

When Pelosi was speaker and the Democrats in charge of both houses, you guys blamed George Bush for everything.

Take ownership. Liberals don't give Obama or Reid credit for anything the last 4.1 years. At some point, you have to blame the Dems. Even when the GOP only owns 1 house, you're still blaming them for everything. It's a Senate bill run by Dems and signed into law by a Dem President. It's a Democrat bill. You don't like it? Blame the Dems.

What's pathetic, clwyd, is how Democrats don't take responsibility for anything...Dems won the election. Dems are in charge. Dems are 100% responsible.

I just filled out the FASFA (financial aid) form last night to try to get some help sending my daughter to college. In pulling together all my information and filling it out, I found that:

- My federal taxes are the highest payment I make for ANYTHING in my life. Higher than I spend on housing, food, autos, etc.

- I have no retirement plan so my wife and I have had to save for retirement. This must be declared on the forms, which makes me look wealthy. (by comparison, the govt worker with a full pension for life does NOT have to let them know that he/she gets payments for life).

- We are middle class. We don't make a fortune, but have managed well (and have managed to save). Had we blown every cent we make, we would be eligible for financial aid, but because we have been frugal, we get screwed and deserve no help.

I am sick and tired of sending so much of my money to the federal government and then seeing those who have mismanaged so badly getting all the help. (Don't have insurance on your home? No problem! The government will bail you out.)

So, we have 4 years in a row of trillion dollar plus deficits.

A National Debt of over $16.4 trillion.

A Federal Reserve that has added $2.9 trillion to its balance sheet and now it worries whether it helped.

We have just spent the $2.1 trillion dollars we raised the debt ceiling just 16 months ago, over $131 billion a month spent.

Unfunded Liabilities over $125 trillion. There's not enough wealth in America to pay this off.

States are burdened with over $4 trillion in unfunded pensions.

Student loans exceed $1 trillion (most in danger of default).

Social Security and Medicare's Trust Funds will run out in 20 and 12 years respectively.

The Institute of Medicine reports that our health care system loses $750 billion EVERY YEAR!

The federal government made at least $125 billion in improper payments in 2011.

Washington spends $92 billion on corporate welfare (excluding TARP) versus $71 billion on homeland security.

The Congressional Budget Office published a “Budget Options” series identifying more than $140 billion in potential spending cuts.

Examples from multiple Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports of wasteful duplication include 342 economic development programs; 130 programs serving the disabled; 130 programs serving at-risk youth; 90 early childhood development programs; 75 programs funding international education, cultural, and training exchange activities; and 72 safe water programs. This report identifies more than $100 billion to $200 billion in annual government spending on 1,500 different programs that are wasteful, duplicative, or inefficient.

A recent study by the Institute of Medicine shows health care fraud is estimated to cost taxpayers more than $750 billion annually.

Now let me show you a finding by our own government auditors that should outrage even the most rabid Big Government advocate.

Government auditors spent the past five years examining all federal programs and found that 22 percent of them–costing taxpayers a total of $123 billion annually–fail to show any positive impact on the populations they serve. (emphasis mine)

Almost 25% of our coveted social programs do NOTHING for the intended population!

AT A COST OF ALMOST $125 BILLION EVERY YEAR!!!!!!!

This is $1.25 TRILLION over 10 years.

It may also interest you that this study by our governments own auditors was started under Bush in 2003. When the results were revealed the study mysteriously ended in 2009.

Coincidence?

I think not.

So, despite all this the argument is over $430 million to Hollywood versus $70 million to NASCAR!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe, just maybe, you should be more concerned about the hundreds of trillions of dollars our government has lost to waste, fraud, abuse and corruption over the past century.

Good luck America!

The CBO should be required to publish a list of earmarks clearly associated with the names, committee memberships and party-affiliations of the particular legislators originating them. This list should be read aloud on the floor and also printed in national newspapers.

If we can't count on these people to behave honestly, at least we should be naming and shaming them.

Well, the Plumbers collapsed my post. I feel honored. Still doesn't change the fact that the Grand Obstructionist Party wants to cut Welfare for the poor then turn around and give even more Welfare to Billionares, Trillionares and Filthy Rich Investors.

skeptical12345

The Republican'ts scream and foam at the mouth that Social Security, and Welfare should be cut...

Then the Republican'ts turn around and give generous Welfare to the Billionaires and Trillionares and Big Wig Business and the Filthy Rich Investors (Not the Citizen Investors).

Shame on the Grand Obstructionist Party, Shame on Obama for signing this bill.

And thats my opinion

your opinion ain't worth spit. How can you call the GOP obstructionist for not wanting to pass this cliff deal, then rag on them for what the deal gives away?

Think before you write!

Skeptical, er what part of this post do I even mention the cliff? I don't! Why don't you Think before you Write eh?

And this is my opinion only.

I own a software company in Florida. One of my biggest clients when I started out was Nascar in Daytona Beach. The France family (Who owns Nascar) is heavily involved with the democrat party. It's hilarious though, reading all these posts from uninformed libbies who are clueless on this subject.

If a bill full of terds came from the Senate and Obama this website would praise it as the best bill ever, the insane bias people have fallen to is inherently dangerous. This is how a nut in Germany took power some eighty years ago.

Its not a republican thing or a democrat thing it's business as usual!

And why is this a surprise? I don't trust the president, Congress, or the Federal Reserve any farther than I can throw them (BOTH PARTIES!!). But, as 2833clark says, "Business as Usual". But these thieves continue to get reelected.

As Thomas Jefferson said "The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first."

2833 No the Marjory of Republicans did vote "NO" on the bill. But when this come out we find the reason why, democrats filled it full of pork. Now all democrats own this economy I don't care what they say on the left Obama owns it. As far as NASCAR I will not pay one more penny to see a race their going to need the 70 million to keep the tracks open if I know NASCAR fans their will a whole lot more staying home.

elayne-675382

Vote them out? Where the hell was your brain in the past elections? Up your a--? I have been saying this for years, but all you idiots do is vote for them and sit here and whine. You people are all so stupid!!! This is way they took so long to vote on this bill, they were trying to get all their crap in there. You idiots are all posting about nascar, what about the raises they are voting for themselves. You people worry me.

Yes, elayne, this is one sick arss country occupied by a bunch of nimrods that had the chance, a couple of months ago, to vote these thieves and crooks out off office, including Dumbama. But no, for that they would have had to put forth effort into their voting process which most likely was beyond thei brain capacity anyway.

Stop whining you morons, you voted these people into office - live with it. Better yet, can you see where all your hard earned tax dollars go? Yup, down the drain for special projects and garbage that will NOT help the so called middle-class. The few extra bucks the government gets from increasing the taxes on the "rich" don't make up for the @!$%# your senators and congress jerks give away in pork barrel money.

Think - think - think - if you can. You are getting screwed from the start by your Democrat crap.

Your FACTUAL SOURCE PLEASE

RI Mom - I got my information from the article we are commenting on.

Tax breaks for Hollywood producers who shoot their movies and TV shows in the U.S., at a cost of about $430 million through 2014.

The producers get the tax break regardless of who is employed as long as their movie is shot in the U.S.

you flippen lib-ocon idiots. you got what you asked for and NOW you are complaining ! this is hilarious. you lib-ocons wanted to lynch those against this pork barrel dressed in sheeps clothing.

going off on emotion !!!! LMAO you flippen lib-ocon idiots. IDIOTS !

your pea sized lib-ocon minds now make your stance on all other issues incredibly obvious.

hear yea, hear yea: all please watch Idiocracy. the first 7/8ths of the "movie" is a lib-ocon dream !!!!

P.S. "BAN ALL GUNS, MAKE ALL AREAS GUN FREE ZONES" !!!!

P.P.S. yeah, that'll do it....gee, whay didn't i think about it, oh, that's right, because IT'S STUPID ! just like all the libo-cons pushing a bill they don't understand and then go "duuuuhhhhh" as they try to pull their feet out of their mouths once their sacred media tells them in plain english what they just pushed through.

all hail lib-ocons !!!!!

redvirginia,

do republicans take responsibility for hold the America and Americans hostage while they play their games and walk away and then when something is done they have people like you defending their "Do Nothing" attitude that benefits only the rich and greedy corporations?

I was one of them once and now I find them scum! Pure and unadulterated scum! So glad I left the party after that now Liberal Reagan left office.

Bob,

If you read the Bill and look at who benefits it is the Red States and the greedy businesses after holding off the tax increase for the middle class. (Alaska-Was Palin involved some how?)

Other Thomas Jefferson quotes regarding government:

"I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive."

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground."

"Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread."

"To take from one because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father’s has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association—the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

And finally:

"Most bad government has grown out of too much government."

But we deserve what the uninformed and unintelligent voter has allowed............

Former Sens. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., left, and Erskine Bowles, D-N.C., co-chairman of President Barack Obama's 2010 deficit commission, said Congress missed a 'magic moment' to reform the tax code.

Agreed Of course, but this is not surprising. The unfortunate fact in DC is that local interests get included in every general bill that comes for discussion, and we ALL need to put our earned dollars into them.

It is to be expected because local representatives are acting on a general, or national government. As long as they work wonders for their constituents, they might retain a lifelong office in Congress.

@dave-2693993
You include your personal input on the article, but you don't have an open door for hate against others here, and you've been reported.

lilirocks,i am guilty of this:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/censured

cen·sure

[sen-sher] Show IPA noun, verb, cen·sured, cen·sur·ing.

noun
1.
strong or vehement expression of disapproval: The newspapers were unanimous in their censure of thetax proposal.

2.
an official reprimand, as by a legislative body of one of its members.

verb (used with object)
3.
to criticize or reproach in a harsh or vehement manner: She is more to be pitied than censured.

verb (used without object)
4.
to give censure, adverse criticism, disapproval, or blame.

if my guilt of pointing out the obvious is wrong, then maybe i don't belong in an environment where the truth is to be supressed. i read the comments as the bill was being question on another thread. the very group coming forth with the hateful comments and just wanted the bill passed, are playing an interesting yet contradicting roll now. the obvious conclusion of this thinking individual leads this thinking individual to the realization last nights pushers and promoters of a law that group didn't understand are idiots. yes, idiots.

now that their beloved media has explained to them the ramifications of their beloved bill, they are now collectively aghast.

should i repeat the word "idiots" again ?

probusiness,

"Nothing is so firmly believed as that which is least known!"- Montaigne

Is that "Ol' Stupid" Joe Biden and "Dirty Harry" Reid playing Dueling Banjo's, eyeing that bill full of left wing pork and exclaiming "I bet you taxpayers can squeal like a pig".

time for on line petitions to oust these guys....make them vote on business matters without pork...flood their offices with emails and phone calls and letters demanding they cut our all pork from any deals regarding business and make published to the public daily on any and all votes so we can see who voted on what and who put the pork in the bill or not.........

these men and women need to be held accountable to we the people, their employers, and made to think twice about working solely for their rich benefactors........

adding pork to any bill should be against the law as it is against the best interests of the nation at this time.

These people are supposed to represent US...............when did that change and why is it legal for them to supersede the wishes of the people who foot the bill and elect them?

Our priorities and justice is so screwed up.......perhaps we should send a 6 year old in there and have him point his finger at them and yell..."Bang!"............

Dean Baker is the co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).

JANUARY 4-6, 2013

It's Irrelevant to the Deficit

Take Your Hands Off Social Security

by DEAN BAKER

Millions of people are rightly outraged to hear that Social Security is in the gun-sights of both Speaker Boehner and President Obama in their budget negotiations. There is no reason that our political leaders should be discussing cuts to the country’s most successful social program.

While the promotion of budget hysteria is one of the largest industries in Washington, the most important and widely ignored fact about the budget situation is that we have large deficits today because the collapse of the housing bubble sank the economy. This is not a debatable point.

The budget deficit was just 1.2 percent of gross domestic product in 2007. Before the collapse of the housing bubble the deficit was projected to remain low for the next decade and the debt-to-GDP ratio was actually falling. This would have been the case even if the Bush tax cuts were allowed to continue.

When the bubble burst and the economy plummeted, tax collections fell. We also spent more on unemployment insurance and other benefits for unemployed workers. And we had further tax cuts and stimulus spending to try to boost the economy. The automatic and deliberate steps taken to counter the downturn fully explain the large deficits we have seen the last five years.

Record low interest rates on government bonds demonstrate that the current deficits are not a real problem. But even if they were, it is difficult to see how cutting Social Security could to be part of the solution. Under the law Social Security is not supposed to be part of the budget. It is an entirely separate program financed on its own.

This is not just a rhetorical point. We can talk about Social Security facing a financing shortfall in the future precisely because it is solely financed by its own revenue stream. One of the most widely discussed proposals to avert that shortfall is a revision in the cost-of-living calculation that would be the equivalent of a 3 percent cut in benefits over a typical retiree’s lifetime. (Perversely, the impact will be largest for the oldest and poorest retirees, since people who live the longest will accumulate the largest reduction in benefits.)

An overwhelming majority of the country strongly supports Social Security and does not want to see any benefit cuts. But because of the nature of this budget negotiation process, Americans are supposed to accept the cuts with no revenue increase whatsoever to shore up the program’s long-term financial position.

It is understandable that people who want to cut back or dismantle Social Security would argue for this position. It is difficult to see why anyone else would.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/01/04/take-your-hands-off-social-security/

Obama, let's see you blame this on Bush.

I blame everything on bush! After all what past president has an arrest warrant out from the World Court in the Hague for War Crimes? Once a criminal always a criminal. Why else has been hiding on his ranch in Texas for 4 years?

I wonder who put those pork barrel projects for Nascar in there? Democrats or republican'ts?

CL,

"I wonder who put those pork barrel projects for Nascar in there? Democrats or republican'ts?"

Well let's see. The France family who owns Nascar are all democrats and donate big time to this party. So take a guess who voted in their pork?

Glad I could help straighten you out, Skippy. You're welcome.

You're right Bobster, shame on those Democrats. Republican pork barrel projects make much more sense, like that multimillion dollar airport that no one uses, or that multimillion dollar bridge that goes to nowhere.

Nik,

Blame Bush! Blame Bush! LMFAO!

Come back to the future Skipper. Your boy obama is president now. LOLOL!

"We're not getting rid of the NASCAR loophole. We're not getting rid of the electric motor scooter low-speed loophole. We're not getting rid of a whole lot of tax things that are here," Issa said." This from the high and might republicans protecting their big business donors to the hilt..but shame on the middle class, those on social security, medicare or medicaid..shame on those who lost jobs that went to China..(thank you congress)

shame on anyone who will no longer be able to afford insurance when their pay drops to china levels so the wealthy and big business will be happy...Let us not forget folks that we voters continue to believe whatever politicans hand out knowing they never do what they say..only what their wealthy friends tell them to do.

I didn't blame Bush, Bobster. I pointed out that Democrats AND Republicans do these kinds of things, a much more balanced way of thinking than that exemplified by your comment. And though a Democrat, I do at times criticize my party. Can you say the same for you and your affiliation, or do you just like to draw attention away from Republican shortcomings and heap scorn on the Democrats and "their boy"? I at least acknowledge that both parties have faults.

Obama isn't "my" boy by the way. He was elected twice, by a majority of Americans. He's OUR "boy".

(You must look funny with your a** laughed off. Can you post a photo? Am sure the resulting enjoyment would cross party lines, and bring all of us together.)

How nice. I've lost nearly everything I once owned under the Obama administration. I've paid near a million dollars in taxes over my lifetime, and they extend 70 billion dollars in tax breaks to a bunch of god damned gagillionaires.

Hey people, I lost my home, been laid off 6 times, my job is now gone as the company I worked for is gone too, my savings including my 401K are all gone and I have a family to raise and I now make $8.00 per hour . If this is Obamas America, it sucks.

Bull. ALL thinking people, liberal OR conservative, care about the environment that sustains us. Making fun of environment-friendly alternative energy sources, and drawing liberal-conservative lines in the sand, won't help you enjoy NASCAR races when they're blown away or under water.

@Nik - LOL

Solar Umbrellas, Windmills and Peddle Power are the only acceptable means of energy.

Except for themselves.

IMHO as long as pork/earmarks - call them what ever you want, I call them payback for political contributions and corporate welfare, as long as this crap continues then the clarion call from the right about fiscal restraint/cuts etc. is not needed.

It seems the RWNJ's in congress want to kill SS and Medicare because they are "bankrupting this country" is an utter pernicious lie that is hell bent on deflecting our attention from the above mentioned payback.

And then there is is waste, corruption, and fraud rampant throughout FEDGOV and the DOD budget both of which are out of control.

Listen carefully to the tripe that comes out of congress and keep a scorecard on how your representatives vote and then in 2014 cast your vote based on fact not political lies call ads.

If we keep our mouths shut we are screwed- just remember that.

Hey, I'm liberal and I love Nascar. Got a gun too.

Wind farms are killing MILLIONS of birds & bats every year....... and no one cares.........

But if an oil rig harms a SINGLE animal of ANY type all hell breaks loose.......

So when does America file for bankruptcy protection?????

I think they should pick a state that votes for only green energy, and cut them off from all other souces of energy and see how they like it. If it works then each state can vote to do it. If the state stops because of power outages then they can kill the project. I do agree with you Steve, but it depends on who kills. Just like the greenies should love Big Oil for all the whales they have saved, by killing the whailing industry in this country, but no they are still hated.

think they should pick a state that votes for only green energy, and cut them off from all other souces of energy and see how they like it.

There is no such state. Wanting to create an energy source when oil runs out doesn't mean they oppose oil. The latest estimates are the world will reach peak production in 20 years or so and even though U.S. production of energy is predicted to drastically increase making us a top producer of energy in 20 years we'll still pay world price. It isn't our oil it's the oil companies and mineral rights holders. When the oils gone all we're left with is a hole in the ground. Green energy is forever.

But if an oil rig harms a SINGLE animal of ANY type all hell breaks loose.......

There's more complaining about the harm being done to people's health and environment than anything else as far as oil is concerned. And you right wingers will cut the links in your food chain to drill for more oil that will mostly go overseas.

AS LONG AS the Left can continue convincing this country that corruption is a partisan issue and place blame solely on the Republicans, this will continue to happen.

The "blame the Republicans" act is just smoke and mirrors so Democrats can turn around and do the exact same crap, without getting called out on it. Everything they do, they do under the auspices of "caring for the middle class". And people completely buy into this.

This is a perfect example. Extending Bush tax cuts, or taxing the "rich" - you'll never see an extra dime.

WAKE UP.

"There is something good and motherly about Washington (DC), the grand old benevolent National Asylum for the helpless."

~ Mark Twain in The Gilded Age (1873)

Hopey,

It has worked for the Democrats as it is true. Look at the foot in the mouth comments made by teabuggers during the campaign. yesterday O'Reilly comment about Asians. All the Asians I know are very Liberal. Republicans have become scum and they used to be my party during Reagan, Goldwater and Nixon. Today these men would be put in the Liberal column by the current leaders of the extreme party of No!

Frankly, I don't see why some of this falls under the category "pork". NASCAR, yes. But why SHOULDN'T taxes on Puerto Rican or V.I. rum be returned to their source to keep that industry (and the jobs it supports) healthy? And isn't it a good use of tax dollars to keep U.S. asparagus farmers (and the jobs they create) afloat against the cheap labor produced asparagus from Perú? This not only supports jobs here, but reduces the carbon emissions needed to get the asparagus to market. Apparently, it is "pork" to a person if that person does not directly benefit. Sort of like Jindahl begging for flood control out of one side of his mouth, but dissing volcano research (which benefits people in places like Alaska, Hawaii and Washington state) out of the other.

OK

I am also a NASCAR fan. Track owners do rake in the cash ok. But the ones that piss me off are the sports team owners. I need a new domed stadium with luxury sky boxes and paid for by the tax payer or else I move the team. Hell we can't afford the price of a ticket now. The gall these people have amazes me .

No industry or company that's awash in money should be given tax breaks that are covered by the labor of all of us. It's f...ing criminal on the part of our "government for the corporation", formerly known as the "government for the people". Will people ever get angry enough to stand up to this arrogance and force reform?

But our government is criminal,so this shouldnt surprise you.

""""like nascar or not the do a heck of a lot for our troops,communities and almost all the drivers have either started their own charity's or work with one."""""

Sure, using taxpayers money then writing it off..they eat from both sides of the hog trough, cool deal. we even support Moonshiners, watch the program on Discovery Channels.. same as in any Pro Sport, you pay their salary weather you watch the game or not. Nothing has change in the way politicians have looked out for their own since George F.. Washington, American is a high level crime organization...

OK John

"...I like NASCAR and I love racing but these track owners are extremly rich. They don't need purks at tax payer's expense. These guys live like kings, fly aroung in choppers and have homes everywhere in the world.."

Replace NASCAR and track owners with Hollywood and movie studios and I would agree. Why was NASCAR singled out in the title, many businesses are getting breaks.

Boromir "...Sure, using taxpayers money then writing it off.."

Not taking money from NASCAR or Hollywood that doesn't belong to the Gov is not giving away taxpayer's money, a concept leftis liberals can't seem to grasp.

NASCAR is American Politics, going around in a oval, never going anywhere, burning fuel, and crashing ... so yes, I see the reason for supporting it.

No industry or company that's awash in money should be given tax breaks that are covered by the labor of all of us.

So your mentality is that because a corporation gets a tax break meaning they pay less of their profits in taxes that you are somehow paying for it, Paying less taxes equals keeping more of your own money, If Nascar did not exist then who would you complain about, Who would pay the taxes that you are not paying. The money does not belong to the Government, It belongs to the people who earned it, The Government works for us, We do not work for the government, We work in the private market to earn money to pay the government for the services that we want them to provide to us, Lately they have been taking our money and using it to provide services to people who are not paying for it, How is that fair, Personally I do not care if you are rich or poor but if you are earning money then you need to contribute to our economy, If you are not earning money and getting money for not working then I think you should be forced to work to earn it. If we let a few of these fat lazy people who do not work starve for a while you would see how quickly they become productive, And please do not tell me that you can not work because of your disability, There are thousands upon thousands of examples of people who have severly dibilitating disabilities that work hard and make lives for themselves many actually doing better than those without disabilities.

Do you see any problem with giving tax breaks to company's to lure them from one State to another?

Do you see any problem with giving tax breaks to company's to lure them from one State to another?

Actually no I do not, When a business or group moves to a state that has lower taxes that means that that business group can expand and when they expand they employ more people and when more people are employed less people are unemployed , It is a win win for the business , the state and the citizens of that state, Many states are forcing businesses and groups out of their state because of over taxation , As a business I expect to pay my fair share of taxes but I do not expect to have to pay my fair share plus pay for those who are not paying anything. If you look at all the states where the businesses and even the citizens are leaving you will see that those states have driven those businesses and citizens out because of over taxation to pay for those who pay no taxes, When it becomes unprofitable to do business in a state then that business has no choice but to move.

Do you see any problem with giving one person/group an exemption from Obamacare while penalizing another?

Businesses should not get perks from the government. That is taxpayers money. I do believe that businesses should be taxes less, since any taxes a company does pay, is passed on to the consumers who purchase those goods, so in the end businesses never pay taxes, the taxpayers pay it for them. The same goes for sports, Teams pay millions to players which is put into the ticket price We Pay. If prices are too high we simply do not buy the tickets.

Lostinthepinebarrens:

If there's no corresponding reduction in spending, we ARE paying for it, pure and simple. Corporations own our government lock, stock and barrel, through campaign contributions, lobbying, and the revolving door between Corporate America and staffing in all three branches of government. They call the shots at every level. It's disgraceful and disgusting.

I am retired, not disabled and NOT on SS or Medicare, and have paid hundreds of thousands in taxes on the sale of businesses I built-not the government as Obama likes to claim. You need not lecture me about contributing my fair share-I've done that and then some-perks to profitable business through tax loopholes to a narrow few is theft, and with this country in crisis and our "leaders" functioning at a second grade level, it's treason.

So your mentality is that because a corporation gets a tax break meaning they pay less of their profits in taxes that you are somehow paying for it, Paying less taxes equals keeping more of your own money

Lost: When special tax breaks are extended to one industry and not to others solely because of political clout or influence it's forcing other less connected companies to pick up the slack. One company that makes 6 billion a year should pay the same as one in another industry making the same.

Businesses should not get perks from the government

Please define perk, Do consider a business getting a deduction for a legitimate business expense a perk, If so do you consider a person getting a deduction for children a perk.

Businesses hire people, Those people buy things and help drive more businesses, The Government takes money from everyone and then gives it to people who do not hire people who do not work and who do not contribute anything to society other than take.

Businesses should not get perks from the government. That is taxpayers money. I do believe that businesses should be taxes less, since any taxes a company does pay, is passed on to the consumers who purchase those goods, so in the end businesses never pay taxes, the taxpayers pay it for them

Gotta love right wing logic. In one post they'll argue about how high taxes are driving businesses into the ground and the next say businesses simply pass the cost along.

Larry you flunked logic didn't you ? We have the highest corporate tax rates in the world. Companies leave here and go to other countries where the rates are less oppressive. Besides, tax rates and "perks" are two different things.

Why does Hollywood get more than SIX TIMES the pork of NASCAR, but then NASCAR gets the most attention here ? It is all because of the lefty hypocrisy... those who supported Obama get the cash while attention is directed elsewhere.

Larry you flunked logic didn't you ? We have the highest corporate tax rates in the world. Companies leave here and go to other countries where the rates are less oppressive. Besides, tax rates and "perks" are two different things.

My logics fine.Mine confuses you because I'm consistant. Few corporations pay the top rate in fact the average is around 18% which is rather low compared to other first world countries. Your logic is the same when Romney complained about our high tax rates of 35% but never paid more than 14% even on 21 million income. You right wingers like to use average rates which includes places like the Caymans which has 60,000 or so people but that's idiotic. Places like the Caymans aren't funding the largest military in the world. You bash our high corporate rates while other right wingers above bash democrats for giving breaks to democratic pets. Big oil and coal should get billions of special breaks but green energy and hollywood is stealing tax money if given any. Gotcha. I never said anything about perks. That was 300 micheal. Corporations have the same responsibilities as citizens. Our laws should force them to comply with our tax laws or apply heavy tariffs if they choose to use tax havens to avoid taxes. If they make their billions off of us they should pay taxes. We can never compete with small tax haven nations and wouldn't have to if we had tariffs that punish imports and benefit domestic.

Corporate tax rates are just where they sould be The reason companies move is wages and healt care get your story straight Corporation want maximum profits for investors A sad truth to the capitalist economy of free enterprise Its time to star over !!! Maximum Profit fot the human race not investors or special interests !!

Actually no I do not, When a business or group moves to a state that has lower taxes that means that that business group can expand and when they expand they employ more people and when more people are employed less people are unemployed

Theoretically that could be a possibility, but in reality they move to states that have lower taxes to pocket more profit, and generally pay lower wages also. Just as you saw work out with the Bush tax breaks, the richest saw huge growth but they kept wages and employment stagnant.

So your mentality is that because a corporation gets a tax break meaning they pay less of their profits in taxes that you are somehow paying for it, Paying less taxes equals keeping more of your own mone

If a tax break for big oil is simply allowing them to keep their own money then so is tax breaks for green energy and hollywood. Your right wing buddies above seem to think these new breaks are a gift.

Actually no I do not, When a business or group moves to a state that has lower taxes that means that that business group can expand and when they expand they employ more people and when more people are employed less people are unemployed

If simply saving corporations money would cause them to expand job growth would have exploded under Bush with his 400 billion a year tax cut most going to the top. Bush's actual job growth rate averaged 32,000 jobs a month over 8 years the lowest rate since Eisenhower. Companies build as much as they can sell. Having more money doesn't cause them to produce more than people will buy. When the 98% has more money they buy and the economy expands. Apple has something like 60 billion cash on hand. You really think they're holding back waiting on a tax break to build more Ipads? They build as many as they can sell as do most companies. Lack of cash isn't an obstacle, lack of customers is.

Businesses must make profits to survive,but when that reason is met they must make more money to satisfy their stockholders,but then they have to make more money to give their board members more money,but they then have to pay more to run the business ,but then they have to consider those people who they employ,at last,but then they still want to maintain their profit margin. to increase there own profits they must increase the costs of their product so it then comes down to where do we go to run our business for less? They look to the states who want more taxes so those states are willing to shelve state taxes from them in order to gain more employee taxes so they move there and claim federal tax breaks plus state tax relief therefore more profits for their board and shareholders and they can pay a new set of workers less pay and benefits.So the game continues..Workers and tax payers getting short changed as usual, with us all federal tax payers giving more money to the wrong end of the stick.There must be a more logical way to do this.

Money controls the government,government controls us, all we have is the illusion of freedom.

Thank you 2833 clark-you summed it up it in a lot less words than I did.

We need true leadership and it sure isn't coming from the White House...

This is what Boenher was fighting against and the Obama supporters all over America wanted him lynched. This same type of pork was attached to the Sandy relief bill also. So now these billions in pork, is all the fault of the Repubs. Pork is a sneaky way to purchase votes.

Finally MSNBC decides to tell the rest of the story, three days late and millions/billions of dollars short.

So Congress had to wait for MSNBC to tell them what was in it?

Here comes the $60 billion Sandy pork bill next. We just keep on spending. Thanks Obama for all your faux leadership. This whole concept of controlled debt down-grade is BS.

And since the Democrats are essentially in control, and the Repubs have been reduced to being spectators, we know all this pork arises from the liberal pigpen.

Everyone needs to wake up to the fact that we can't keep giving money away and demand both sides of the aisle get this financial debacle under control.

Partly right on. We the People also need to publicly shame and/or boycott every company that is getting gov't welfare - every last one of them!

It's all MSNBC's fault

And since the Democrats are essentially in control, and the Repubs have been reduced to being spectators, we know all this pork arises from the liberal pigpen.

Sorry bud. You seem to think that only the squeaky clean Repubs are unhappy with the pork. You are flat out wrong.

ANY of them that put pork in the 'rescue' bill - and/or then voted for it - have fully stepped in "it". And I, at least one "liberal", am damned tired of this BS.

You need to get it that being 'liberal' is not about being 'irresponsible'. And this pork crap is complete irresponsibility.

Actually, when the idiot Boehner refused to put the Sandy Relief Bill forward, he knew he was putting the screws to two blue states, and a lil payback for Gov Christie. These useless, partisan politicians love to play the game thinking they are God.

Look at who voted for it, Mostly Democrats in the congress, The house speaker did the right thing on putting the brakes on the bill and look at what happened, they got chastized for taking money away from the poor people in those areas. The same people that screem about government waist go screaming for their share of the Pork. This is why it will never end. It was the same for the fiscal cliff, tax everyone else, but don't tax me more. So the government will continue to pit us against each other.

Moshulu, your comment is why we have this problem.

Moshulu, your comment is why we have this problem.

LOL....

If you believe my comments are "why we have this problem," you're not a well-read man, are you?

It's you and most of the republicans you put back in office that are the problem, the obstructionist you just re-elected are practically the same group of 13 + republicans who met on January 20, 2009, promising to obstruct any, and everything President Obama or his administration tried to do for the American people.

Nice try though.....trying to lay the problems of your republican party on my shoulders....LOL

Moshulu, gross stupidity SHOULD be obstructed !

Our country is $16.3 trillion in debt and Obama appears headed towards DOUBLING the national debt of ALL his predecessors COMBINED ! The financial idiot-in-chief has never seen to it that a freaking BUDGET got passed (as required by law) and his own previous offerings were so bad ... they never got the first vote of support from his own party.

All Obama wants to do is tax and spend so our country needs to OBSTRUCT this ongoing stupidity before the U.S. is bankrupt !!

You never had a course in basic accounting, did you ?

You right wingers like to pin the last budget on Obama but Bush's last budget ran from October 2008 until October 2009 with a projected deficit of 1.2 trillion dollar bringing Bush's combined debt to 12.1 trillion. It was enacted before Obama was even elected. Had Obama simply ran Bush's last budget his first term the debt would still be 15.7 trillion had he not spent another dime. A new president doesn't create a budget on day one. The first nine months is the old one.

From Factcheck.org:

Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, at a nationally televised meeting of House Republicans in Baltimore, accused President Obama to his face of running up deficits a dozen times greater than the GOP’s. The president said, "That’s factually just not true, and you know it’s not true," and he invited "any independent fact-checker out there" to assess which man got the facts right.

OK, we will.

We have to score this one for Obama. Hensarling told a Texas-size whopper — and then tried to claim Republican credit for Blll Clinton’s budget surpluses.

Let’s look at exactly what was said, and what the facts show.

Hensarling said that under Obama, "what were the old annual deficits under Republicans have now become the monthly deficits under Democrats."

It’s true that deficits have grown under Obama, but not even close to as much as Hensarling claimed. The simple fact is that Obama inherited a federal deficit of $1.2 trillion on the day he was sworn in last year. Barely two weeks earlier, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office issued its regular "Budget and Economic Outlook" document, stating:

CBO, Jan. 2009: The federal fiscal situation in 2009 will be dramatically worse than it was in 2008. Under the assumption that current laws and policies remain in place (that is, not accounting for any new legislation), CBO estimates that the deficit this year will total $1.2 trillion, more than two and a half times the size of last year’s.

That $1.2 trillion projected deficit — the result of bills signed by Republican President George W. Bush — grew substantially after Obama signed his stimulus bill and submitted his own budget. But even so, by the time the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, the actual deficit was $1.4 trillion, CBO said.

CBO, Nov. 6, 2009: The federal government recorded a total budget deficit of $1.4 trillion in fiscal year 2009, about $960 billion more than the deficit incurred in 2008.

At the time Hensarling made his claim, CBO was projecting that the deficit for the year would be lower — about $1.3 trillion. Later, on Feb. 1, Obama unveiled a new budget that would push the current year’s deficit to a record $1.55 trillion, by his administration’s estimates. But Hensarling’s claim is untrue even comparing that higher figure to any of the eight fiscal years for which Bush signed the tax and spending bills. The new deficit figure comes out to an average of just under $130 billion per month. Bush’s lowest annual deficit was just under $158 billion in fiscal 2002. It reached nearly $459 billion in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2008, and, as we mentioned, was on track to reach $1.2 trillion by the time Obama took office.

So how could Hensarling possibly justify his claim? By claiming credit for budget surpluses that occurred under a Democratic president and avoiding responsibility for the biggest deficits run up under Bush, that’s how.

Finally MSNBC decides to tell the rest of the story

I'm sure Fox has been consumed with investigative reports on the subject. Especially when most of this 'Pork' seems to be put into bills by republicans.

As is propping up Hollywood, who makes more money than NASCAR could dream of.

Propping up poorly administered racetracks of any kind is repulsive

LOL...taking less of businesses money via taxation is now considered propping up, I suppose in your mind any money made by that business is the property of the government.

I think propping up of any poorly administered State or City governments is repulsive, I find a National Government that borrows $0.43 cents of every $1.00 it spends is repulsive, I find a Government that is over $16 trillion dollars in debt and increases taxes yet increases spending by more than they have increased taxes and does nothing to try to reduce spending to be repulsive.

think propping up of any poorly administered State or City governments is repulsive, I find a National Government that borrows $0.43 cents of every $1.00 it spends is repulsive

Bush's last budget ran from October 2008, until October 2009 and had a deficit of 1.2 trillion dollars. Meaning the government under Bush was borrowing around 43c for every dollar in revenue. This budget passed 1 month before Obama was elected and 3 before taking office and is roughly the same as Obama has ran. Why hasn't our exploding defict been a problem until a democrat took over?

No problem with NASCAR and what they actually do in a community. I seen it first hand but really Hollywood no wonder they line up ti support Obamass and the demos what a bunch of hypocritical butt kissing worthelees truds. I can see Michael Moore face full of cookies spouting that this is Bush's fault betwen mouthfuls of Obama and having his hand out for his money.

As is propping up Hollywood, who makes more money than NASCAR could dream of.

Hollywood also employs more people than NASCAR could dream of. What happen to all that talk about not taxing the job creators?

Bowles and Simpson have had their findings out. You just won't find it on MSNBC. I've know about it because I look to other sources for information. It's a bipartisan idea so it doesn't work in DC.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/12/bowles-simpson-raises-taxes-on-the-super-rich-more-than-obama/265994/

MMos-575010

Im glad there are others out here that look to other sources for the truth and not just sit back and follow the Obama media.

Sadly - you're right. It's all theater meant to diffuse the angst and anger of the public by having a couple of mouthpieces denounce their own actions.

Carefully planned. Perfectly executed. No wonder Hollywood is now getting a welfare handout.

How dare you blame McCain for this, he is speaking out like so many elected officials that watched this entire fiasco and said nothing. This bi-partisan crap is what is going to keep us getting butt banged by government.

What you should ask yourself is , did this idiot tell the truth.

My thoughts too Big Dave. I am so disgusted with partisan politics, it amazes me how so many people refuse to see that as a Major Problem. Barring a revolt of epic proportions, the average U.S. Citizen is doomed, as special interests and major corporations will continue to rule this country with an iron fist and laugh at the common man, better known as the Middle Class.

Here Here Bryan, for all the democratic talk that the GOP is for big business, after this calamity people are still in this us and them child shyt. OOOhhh it just burns my butt. I am a realist, I know that both sides are for big business.

The way out is to get honest people, and I believe term limits are what government needs. Two terms of 3 year duration for them all.

Big & bryan

I agree with you guys.

We have to many brain washed ( or brain dead ) people in this country today. I blame the media for this problem. The slanted slop they serve up as news and entertainment is for the sole purpose of turning our brains to mush. How much more of this will the American people put up with ?? It is long past time to take our country back and enforce the constitution as it was originally written . Also serving in congress was a privilege not a career . Their salary should be cut by 50% and they should also pay for their own travel expenses.

Voters had their chance last Nov but re-elected the same people. What do they expect to change? The voters are brain-dead idiots.

Congress's salary should be based off the average salary of the US citizen. If they want a pay increase, they would need to figure out how to bring up the average citizen's pay. Right now it sands at around 50k if I am not mistaken. How would that be for a nice peice of legislation? Besides, they are servants not masters. They need to be reminded of that fact.

TC

There's a simple solution. Any spending bill should be voted on it's own with no additions. Adding 10's of billions in pork to critical legislation is wrong and both sides do it. Ryan bashed Obama for ACA yet requested millions in funding for clinics in his district from ACA. Ryan bashed Obama for alternate energy funding yet requested millions for a bio-diesel plant in his district. It's only pork in someone else's district. Remember the Alaskan bridge to nowhere?

Exactly. Stand alone bills.

Ryan bashed Obama for ACA yet requested millions in funding for clinics in his district from ACA. Ryan bashed Obama for alternate energy funding yet requested millions for a bio-diesel plant in his district. It's only pork in someone else's district. Remember the Alaskan bridge to nowhere?

When you are paying for something even if you do not agree with it why should you not benefit from it, That is like saying I will pay for the pie because I am forced to but will not eat it.

Yes we remember the bridge to no where, The irony is that under Obamas new infrastructure rebuilding program the bridge to no where may be completed, Did you also know that there many bridge to no where throughout this country all built with pork from both sides of the isle

Yes we remember the bridge to no where, The irony is that under Obamas new infrastructure rebuilding program the bridge to no where may be completed, Did you also know that there many bridge to no where throughout this country all built with pork from both sides of the isle

I was quite clear that both sides feed at the trough and yes many bridges are built but few as egregious as the bridge to nowhere. I think it was a cost of 6 billion leading to an island with a few hundred people. That was exceptional by any standard.

Just looke at W Virginia, Byrd had built more roads in that state then most other larger states got. Yet they go mostly unused. He was the king of waiting money on needless roads. Larry that is right in line with his spending for far less people.

Actual cost looking it up was 400 million.

Just a quick note early on a Saturday afternoon about Sarah Palin's Bridge to Nowhere and what it cost. Setting aside the question of earmarks as policy, I'm just interested in discussing the price tag. The proposed earmark was to be a total of $400 million dollars. So, how much does it cost to build a bridge in the United States, on average?

That's not an easy question to answer for a number of reasons. For one, cost of doing business varies from state to state. Another problem is that no two bridges are exactly alike, either in form or function. But it is instructive to note that the entire U.S. Department of Transportation budget for building bridges across the whole of the country is only $5 billion dollars. Equally instructive is the fact that the Frederick Douglass – Susan B. Anthony Bridge here in Rochester – a national award winning bridge in New York State, by the way – was built for a mere $38 million dollars.

Again in fairness, the Bridge to Nowhere was a considerably more grand project than the relatively modest spanning of the Genesee River. The Gravina Island Bridge was slated to be higher than the Brooklyn Bridge and longer than the Golden Gate. It was required to be so because commercial fishing boats needed to get under the bridge and the span is the narrowest point between the two bodies of land.

But to put it all together, 38 million dollars gets you an award winning bridge in New York State that carries an average of 77,000 cars a day. But in Alaska – which has a cost of living surprisingly similar to New York – you need $400 million dollars to build a bridge for 50 people.

- See more at: http://dragonflyeye.net/blog/2008/09/13/bridge-to-nowhere-a-cost-analysis-and-local-perspective/#sthash.CylRsjdk.dpuf

Just a quick note early on a Saturday afternoon about Sarah Palin's Bridge to Nowhere and what it cost. Setting aside the question of earmarks as policy, I'm just interested in discussing the price tag. The proposed earmark was to be a total of $400 million dollars. So, how much does it cost to build a bridge in the United States, on average?

That's not an easy question to answer for a number of reasons. For one, cost of doing business varies from state to state. Another problem is that no two bridges are exactly alike, either in form or function. But it is instructive to note that the entire U.S. Department of Transportation budget for building bridges across the whole of the country is only $5 billion dollars. Equally instructive is the fact that the Frederick Douglass – Susan B. Anthony Bridge here in Rochester – a national award winning bridge in New York State, by the way – was built for a mere $38 million dollars.

Again in fairness, the Bridge to Nowhere was a considerably more grand project than the relatively modest spanning of the Genesee River. The Gravina Island Bridge was slated to be higher than the Brooklyn Bridge and longer than the Golden Gate. It was required to be so because commercial fishing boats needed to get under the bridge and the span is the narrowest point between the two bodies of land.

But to put it all together, 38 million dollars gets you an award winning bridge in New York State that carries an average of 77,000 cars a day. But in Alaska – which has a cost of living surprisingly similar to New York – you need $400 million dollars to build a bridge for 50 people.

- See more at: http://dragonflyeye.net/blog/2008/09/13/bridge-to-nowhere-a-cost-analysis-and-local-perspective/#sthash.CylRsjdk.dpuf

Double post error.

hey! its all just a "drop in the bucket"! about 1/3 of the hurricane sandy emergency relief fund went to other than emergency relief, and repairs FOR the damage caused by hurricane sandy, yet to Gov. Christie, he's crying about that "drop in the bucket" we taxpayers will be paying... you dont really wonder WHY a republican actually changed sides just before the hurricane hit the east coast do you? of course he was in it for the perks of the taxpayers dime... nothing new, nothing better, and the only change is how much more the taxpayer is going to be dishing out of his paycheck.

the only thing mojo... it all adds up to hundreds of billions with all the litle millions of drops in the bucket.... people need to wake up, seriously.

OK, lets start taking names and specifics on what they did. Instead of complaining about this lets get the information out in the open and propose legislation to reverse these things.

The way it is now, congressmen passed "goodies" for their friends and got credit for that. Other congressmen get to complain about it and get some recognition for that. How about a principled representative (I know like the Easter Bunny) putting something out there and pushing it?

Don't you dare leave out the president and the vice president, their fingerprints are all over this bill. They are all guilty, as a matter of fact the president was the last person to sign off on this junk. All he had to do was say there is to much pork attached, and refused to sign it.

Until we abolish the current income tax system in favor of a fixed percentage income tax or a VAT, what you see is what you get. So when are Americans going to get fed up enough with this stuff to start demanding a fair system?

blah, blah, and more blah. Stop whinning and deal with what all you people did. There is no one who will stop this but the voters and most are morons. Can not see how obama got back in. He did NOTHING for the american people the first four years, yet, they say he won the election. With the crap you people voted in, there is nothing that can be done. You people have sat here and whined about this government for years and you did all this for your children and grandchildren. Hope you are all happy. It is too late to change anything anymore. This country is a joke.

gnome, I have been posting here that the voters should check out what the crooks in wdc voted on. The perks that they get. That everyone of those idiots who voted against the american people should get voted out. Their voting record is public information, but do all the morons here, in the country checked this stuff out, NO. They sit here and post all kind of crap that THEY KNOW [really nothing] and then vote for the same people who are screwing them. Then these morons come back here and whine. Like just shut up already, you did this to your self. And believe me when I tell, there is nothing the american people can do to fix what they have done. It is over. I have told you people time and time again to contact your congress person and put your foot down, but most of you have not. And, if you did, it shows that your congress person ignores you.

elayne,

You sound angry and hopeless.

You separate yourself from "most" people.

Do you have many friends?

woody,

I am angry because of idiots like you. I am not hopeless, probably you are. I separate myself from most people, because they are stupid. probably like yourself.

I do have friends, many. And we try to better this country, unlike you. At least when we vote for someone, we do research on their past voting records. More than most here. Do you? Probably not. How many of you vote democrat because you are a democrat, or vote republican because your republican. How stupid.

elayne,

If you and your friends want to better the country,

It's not a good idea to try to alienate a big chunk of people in the country.

The problem with voting them out is that they still get to keep thier pensions. Replacing them with a new set of boobs, only adds to our cost.

We need to clean house in a way that they forfeit all the perks that they get.

The line item veto would end much of the pork. Dole and McCain proposed allowing the president to have a line item veto and Clinton signed it but after opposition by both sides it was ruled unconstitutional by the SCOTUS. When the details of a bill is released the names of each congressman who proposed the additon of each part should be made public. We can speculate which party is responsible but have no way to know. If it's NASCAR it's probably republican pork for Hollywood democratic yet it really comes down to whichever party they gave the biggest check to. Whether republican or democrat if the checks big enough they'll sponsor it.

Sunshine Rule anyone? No more closed door meetings. No more Republican or Democrat only caucus's.

woody,

Not offending anyone, not really.. Just calling it as I see it. Something that anyone with open eyes could see. You people sit here and blame one party or the other. Fox said this, CNN said that. How stupid. If you people would have just opened your eyes even 10 years ago, alot of this would not be happening. But just put the blame on the other guy. The Blame is you. And if you people don't like what I post, it is probably because the truth hurts.

Alienate a big chunk of the country? So what, they are the problem. They cause all this and I should worry about their feelings? Read the posts here and see how the blame is bounced back and forth.

We have people voting, but don't have any idea what the person they are voting for, stands for. They simply look for a D, or an R and vote on that. Or they just look at one policy like SS or somthing and vote on that. If a democrat says he will not touch SS every Democrat will vote for them, even if he says He would also support making the US a dictatorship. The Republicans are the same saying they would make certin things lawfull and drasticy change the format of our country. Elayne is correct, the voters are either blind to the truth or stupid, it is really that simple. Most have no concept of how the constitution works, (most have never read even part of it). I would disagree with one thing though, it has been in the works for the last 100 years, You can go back to the Wilson presidency to see the seeds of this. Even Teddy Rosevelt got credit for breaking up monoplies, but while they were broken up the people in control actually got richer because of the breakup. The govenment rarely makes things better, mostly worse with thier meddling.

Your post makes little sense. People vote for the candidate or party that most closely follows what's important to them. The alternative is to vote for someone who doesn't. Actually I think the person who votes for those opposed to what he wants would be the blind and foolish. And clearly you are wrong. The fact we alternate presidents indicates most people don't blindly vote the party line. I voted Reagan, Clinton then Obama. I was intrigued by Reagans plan and tired of Carter. For the states where they record party affiliation democrats outnumber republicans 41% or so to 30% republicans. In that range. If people only voted party democrats would always win the presidency.

Big Dave,

"Don't you dare leave out the president and the vice president, their fingerprints are all over this bill." #8.3

Truer words were never spoken, and not once did the President or Vice President mention the fact that the fiscal-cliff bill was loaded with pork (with their no more loopholes and tax breaks BS). The Sandy bill is just as bad. Boehner was smart to wait on the Sandy legislation. He knew the real story on the fiscal-cliff bill would trickle out with time. And the President wants to raise the spending cap after this. NO WAY! Can't trust Obama anymore.

@woodsmith,

funny how you troll someone out, then sit back as if you didnt have some of what what said coming to you... just 1 of several little drops in the bucket that love to relish in the 1st amendment, yet take offence in some better than thou attitude when one displays it back.

with 1/3+ of the entitled being on welfare, (not counting the retired, vets, and actually disabled) falling into the entitlement class, there is no need to question why nobama the clown, or pelosi the ringmaster types get re-elected.

being in a union, i was apalled our union, and other unions that backed nobama for white house resident "again" even tho he talked about putting americans out of work, and 4 painful years of reading about it being done while he held office beforehand.... and still, they backed him for nothing other than party politics. yet tierd of all the politics, we are now leaning forward into the "right to work" phase of manufacturing. our company is getting the leverage it needs from the clowns in office to get this passed if it comes to vote.

what will change America? the requirement it takes to cast a legitimate vote for the population. here is a comment made from a welfar clown, looking for his handout...

" in order for me to get finacial assistance, they said i am required to spend 40 hrs a week looking for a job, and apply for any job i am able to do. its bullsh!t. why should i spend 40 hrs a week looking for a job, when there are no jobs". (Chris K. from MI.)

i pointed out, sitting in front of a computer, filling out applications, and getting "free money" is the least you can do with your time other than smoking pot, popping pills on the taxpayers dime, and doing nothing all day. but was met with an argument to justify his excuse that made as much sence as why we pay these people. the whole government system caters to these people even tho they will apply for a position they know they are underqualified for, and have no chance in getting. but guess out of both of us who voted for nobama? wasnt me.

.....Because they can make bad publicity? Washington isn't stupid, they are just greedy and self-centered.

Here's the kicker, AgaintTheGrains.......

Quote:

• A tax credit for construction of renewable energy projects, like wind turbines and biomass, geothermal and hydropower generation, for one year. It's projected to cost about $116 million, the committee said.

That may seem like a drop in the bucket, but here's the kicker: While the extension to qualify for new projects covers only 2013, the actual tax credit itself is good for 10 years. That means new projects that break ground in 2013 will be able to claim the credit for the next decade, at an overall price tag the committee put at slightly less than $12.2 billion.

LOL there is no way ET grossed $435bn - or more than 1,000x any other movie ever made. Please quote your source on this piece of BS.

Because Hollywood donated millions to whose campaign?

Have you read the bill? The "Sandy Relief" is actually titled National Disaster Relief 2012 and covers ALL major natural disasters and their mitigation from the entire calendar year of 2012. The bill was just about to go to vote when Sandy occurred and that recovery was added to the prior bill...which actually was originally an amendment to the DOD FY 2013 authorization bill. Again, a non-germane amendment to an authorization bill, but was still originally proposed long before Sandy occurred.

Both parties are guilty of adding "pork" to any bill and it has been done for ages. Does it make it right? No. But don't go blaming the Democrats when in truth Republicans do it too.

And some of the GOP members are the biggest PORK attachers.

but don't blame the government if you insurance company has not cut you a check!

You do realize that in areas where the "private markets" are insufficient/ignore, the Gov't's jobs is to fill those gaps. With that said, the Gov't is one of the largest providers of flood insurance.

Very few insurers in the US provide flood insurance coverage due to the hazard of flood typically being confined to a few areas. As a result, it is an unacceptable risk due to the inability to spread the risk to a wide enough population in order to absorb the potential catastrophic nature of the hazard. In response to this, the federal government created the National Flood Insurance Program in 1968

The $9 billion Christie and other Republicans have been gone on and on about is for the immediate assistance is for the federal flood insurance fund.

The other $50 billion plan is most likely pork filled, but that doesn't mean funding isn't need to rebuild what was destroyed, like key economic center for NJ, the destroyed Jersey shore.

Now, think about the working poor, those that work, barely get by, pay their bills, renting homes. Doing what they can just to live. Not rich enough to have to take it easy, not poor enough to get aid. Suddenly they are homeless cause the house they were renting is destroyed and makes their life worse.

They need help as well.

Nothing is black and white.

Brian,

While I agree that relief for victims of a natural disaster are appropriate, it does not mean that the taxpayers should be subjected to pork filled bills in order to get the necessary funds approved.

Currently there are laws in place that does not allow for unrelated ("pork") amendments to be added to bills, but these laws have been ignored for decades and has been abused over and over. It is time to put an end to our current unlawful and corrupt way of doing things in our Government. It is time for the people to join together and demand that the lawmakers begin following ethical and Constitutional ways of doing things on Capitol Hill. Bottom line, don't pass any bills until they are just and appropriate.

The screams demanding immediate passage of Sandy relief are mostly from prominent republicans. Trying to make this some big spending binge by democrats is simply a lie.

By Nia-Malika Henderson and Ed O'Keefe,

Jan 03, 2013 02:58 AM EST

The Washington Post

House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), already battered by the political fallout of the "fiscal cliff" debacle, found himself in another political war Wednesday.

The speaker faced an extraordinary barrage of criticism from outraged members of his own party for not bringing a $60 billion relief package for victims of Hurricane Sandy to a vote in the House before the end of the 112th Congress.

There is only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said Wednesday. "The House majority and their speaker, John Boehner."

But after a closed-door session with the New York and New Jersey congressional delegations, Boehner announced that the House would vote on the measure in two phases — first on Friday, for $9 billion in flood assistance, and then on an additional $51 billion on Jan. 15, the first full legislative day of the new Congress in the House.

Now, think about the working poor, those that work, barely get by, pay their bills, renting homes. Doing what they can just to live. Not rich enough to have to take it easy, not poor enough to get aid. Suddenly they are homeless cause the house they were renting is destroyed and makes their life worse.

They need help as well.

Nothing is black and white.

Brian84:You won't get republicans to agree by pointing out poor people affected by Sandy are in trouble. Maybe if you could point out some corporations or billionares in need they'd agree.

I disagree that the role of the federal government is to provide "insurance" where the free market will not at least at an "affordable" price. The reason that private market does not sell flood insurance is because the risk of loss is too great. This should tell those who build in a flood plain that it is not a good idea. However, our government has seen fit (outside their constitutional bounds) to be in the insurance business.

While there may be a small role for the federal government to aid in desasters, it should be the role of each state and they should have reserves for such times. The reason they don't is because, like the federal government, they are spending on projects that should not be done by governments.

disagree that the role of the federal government is to provide "insurance" where the free market will not at least at an "affordable" price. The reason that private market does not sell flood insurance is because the risk of loss is too great. This should tell those who build in a flood plain that it is not a good idea. However, our government has seen fit (outside their constitutional bounds) to be in the insurance business

You're one of those with the mistaken beliefs that because something isn't mandated by the constitution they shouldn't be involved. The constitution only insures the government performs it's minimum functions the founders felt were critical but doesn't limit what congress and the president can do. Hard to believe that many think the constitutional requirement to provide for the national defense means over 1000 foreign military bases falls under defense. I disagree.

While I agree that relief for victims of a natural disaster are appropriate, it does not mean that the taxpayers should be subjected to pork filled bills in order to get the necessary funds approved.

Currently there are laws in place that does not allow for unrelated ("pork") amendments to be added to bills, but these laws have been ignored for decades and has been abused over and over. It is time to put an end to our current unlawful and corrupt way of doing things in our Government. It is time for the people to join together and demand that the lawmakers begin following ethical and Constitutional ways of doing things on Capitol Hill. Bottom line, don't pass any bills until they are just and appropriate

Of course. I am not suggesting that they do that. I am suggesting that the $9b for funding the insurance program is much more needed right now and that is what they should be focused on working on, and what they finally approved.

Republicans control the house, yet they don't act like it either. The Senate passed a pork filled bill, cut the pork. Strip out all the Sandy Relief related portions and craft them into a bill, leaving for the Senate to pass cause are they really gonna hold it up in the Senate because there is no pork? A political Sh!t storm would brew out of that.

This is an idea from Newt Gringrich, not myself, can't take credit for it. However, it is sound advice. And sound advice is sound advice, even if it comes from a Republican. Now, we need some sound action to go along with. I really don't care if it comes from Democrats, or Republicans as long as it is sensible.

That would be the "Right to work" Red States.

I thought I heard it was a tax increase on everyone. And tryreality...all states should be "Right to work" states. How about instead of being sarcastic....how does all this pork work for you?

people making 20-30k will see an increase in taxes. $297 according to trusted NBC sources, which you can verify easily. And here I thought NO ONE over 250K (200k if single) would see an increase in taxes? Way to go Mr Pres, "NO NEW TAXES" ...rings a bell.

Joe Done: this isn't a "new" tax. This is the same old Social Security tax you were paying 3 years ago. They just suspended it until the economy improved. Supposedly the economy has improved so they turned on the tap again. You have been getting a no interest loan for 3 years and now you have to start paying it again.

It is your Social Security tax which was lowered in to put more money in your pocket. It is just going back to what it should be. It is not a new tax.

I was listening to RW radio yesterday (BLEH). Same old nit-wit Bullkrap. The idiot was framing the expiration of the 2011 social security tax break as an "increase" in taxes for the Middle Class implemented by President Obama. The RW nut failed to mention that the break itself was implemented by the Dems back in 2011 as part of the Economic Recovery package, and was desiged to expire in two years. It had nothing to do with the fiscal cliff. It had simply run it's course.

When you are wondering why the partisan lines in the sand are becoming lines in concrete....it's because the stupid RWers are actually repeating that moronic RW media created nonsense. A few are doing it right here on these boards. You RWers actually believe what people like Deligiorno and Limbaugh and Beck tell you. I dont even tune in to Ed Schultz or Rachael Maddow. I tune in, on occasion, to the RW hack radio people so I can laugh when I see the RW Dil-dos on these boards repeating the BS.Educate yourself morons. BTW, I hate all "pork", but I'll take clean energy "pork" that benefits everyone over NASCAR any day of the week.

Actually you got the date wrong GR, it was the Stimulus Act of 2009, not 2011. The original FICA suspension was to end in 2011 and was extended each of the last two years because of the "economy" clause attached to the suspension.

Wait until you get your paycheck today and see 20$ missing. You can thank your Democrat friends for the wage reduction. More to come.

That $20 was a gift from Obama over the last four years taken by lowering the social security tax 2%. You should thank him for the gift the last four years. That was one of the things republicans demanded he end. Thank them.

Larry, are you thanking Bush for the "gift" he gave you?

Larry, are you thanking Bush for the "gift" he gave you?

I didn't send it back but had they ended the Bush cuts for me I'd still be appreciative for what I'd saved unlike the guy above bashing Obama for ending the 2% cut. I'm not one of those who thinks temporary means forever.

tryreality-1568930, you are clearly a liar. Check any search engine for increase that will affect EVERYONE who receives a paycheck. Some of you people on here are so full of BS you must be sick from eating it and puking it back into here. wait till the lower income owes money at the end of a year, no, people are not stupid ...only mislead.

Well, according to my employer we are now getting hit with a 2% payroll tax in addition to everything else we pay and I do not make over $400,000 a year and neither do the hourly workers that report to me. So, I would say that is a "new tax"!

tryreality - you have no excuse to be uninformed. Even the mainstream media is covering the end of the payroll tax holiday. EVERYONE'S check has an additional 2% of medicare taxes coming out effective 1/1/13. Get informed before you get on the comments.

Like NMEast posted above, the 2% is NOT a new tax. It simply ends the suspension of 2% of your SS/Medicare (FICA) withholdings that was part of the 2009 stimulus package...that was supposed to originally last for only one year. You'll be thankful when you are ready to retire that that suspension was ended because it helps reduce the borrowing Congress has done from the Trust Funds...yes, that is right...Trust Funds for your future retirement and medical care. If you had been smart, you would have been taking that 2% the past three years and putting it into a separate Credit Union personal retirement/healthcare trust fund.

Wait a Minuit, I thought we were all going to get free health care. That is how it was proposed to all of us before they passed it so they could find out what was in it. So now what? Does anybody know how this is going to work? Does anybody know how they are going to police this? Do you actually believe if a minority worker who is working under the table gets sick he will be denied health care? The ACLU will be on that faster than a fly on S--. Same oh----Same oh--- Only people who follow the rules will be paying. Do we think Gang Bangers will be paying that 700 bucks a year? LOL!

How do so many people come up with so many differences on the taxes? Every story you read is different. Only 2% more from our paycheck will be taken out, another says nothing will be taken out and so on and so on. Does anyone have a clue. Depending on what news channel you watch, you have your answer. Even the guys who are in the 'loop', different interview, different answer. But it all boils down to wdc are liars and crooks and we got screwed again.

Do you actually believe if a minority worker who is working under the table gets sick he will be denied health care? The ACLU will be on that faster than a fly on S--. Same oh----Same oh--- Only people who follow the rules will be paying. Do we think Gang Bangers will be paying that 700 bucks a year? LOL!

Illegals will do the same as they always have. If they aren't in the system they'll go to the emergency room for life threatening issues which was Romneys grand plan for poor people. We've always paid for these people by paying higher hospital costs. You really think aspirins cost a hospital $25?

I wasn't aware that free health care was promised as a selling point for the ACA? Access to health care is far different from "free" health care. But, hey think of it this way before the ACA uninsured people racked up 40 billion a year in uncompensated care at hospitals. Most of that was subsidized by government dollars. And medicare and medicaid spending well that is what it is, running up the national debt.

Now there is another solution, revoke the Federal law that says in an emergency hospitals have to treat you even if you can't pay and just start letting people die. Cancel medicare and medicaid and just start letting people die. This is a legimate solution, albeit a brutal and inhumane one.

Or figure out the most cost effective way to pay for all this. Because either way you will pay for it, and ignoring it is just going to make it cost more. The ACA is at best a band aid, it was blocked and hindered at every turn by insurance companies and big pharma. Why because they make billions off things as they are. The American people are getting screwed in the process.

a-----rand must've thought the first A in ACA stood for Free.

Let's sum it up for everyone, The only way Congress would vote on not going over the fiscal cliff was to give away over $65 BILLION in tax cuts (which is spending money) to big business . This is the amount of the bill to help the victims from Sandy. AMERICA Congress helped Big Business before they would help The Victims of Sandy, and before they will vote to help Sandy Victims , they will also want to spend billions on pork or "Sandy Victims" won't get helped!!! CONGRESS is acting as if they are MAFIA ! CONGRESS IS USING EXTORTION TACTICS plain and simple.

Bill,

To answer your question, "does anybody care about doing the right thing anymore?", for the most part NO.

Too many people are so caught up in this Democrat vs. Republican BS and towing the party line that they are completely blinded to reality. The Government sponsored media (MSN, MSNBC, CBS, CNN, etc, etc, etc,) has brainwashed the masses into sheep that will follow without question. Until we wake everyone up, get united once again and get them off the Kool-Aide, this will continue.

Pmark --I posted this a couple days ago in reference to another article, but it would seem to be particularly relevant here, too:

The problem is US! Jimmy Carter was right way back when, but no one wanted to hear it. We are in a malaise. Very few of us actually vote and the ones who do have become so polarized they can't even talk to each other anymore, their political opinions garnered from sound bites emanating from incendiary "news" sources and news personalities with healthy, funded agendas. Isn't it time for some common sense: nobody can be wrong or right all the time. And, is there anything really wrong with being wrong if we always learn from our mistakes and move forward?

NFL, baseball, basketball..all get breaks......Such as free stadiums and arenas PAID FOR BY TAX DOLLARS

...racetrack are built with private money and generate massive revenue for the community they are in.

Why shouldn't they get to depreciate their business like others

Hollywood? I guess we can all figure that one out!

Obama campaign contribution = tax breaks for your company...

republican, i'm sure obama was the first to give tax breaks to campaign contributors. idiot.

sweet - So Obama can do something because someone else did it first takes his responsibility for doing it okay? Your comment is pure nonsense. By the way calling someone an idipot is a violation of the COH on Newsvine.

We have citizens trying to recover from "Sandy" and that bill got pork & stalled. The Fiscal cliff bill got pork-ed and passed.

Maybe it time to ensure incumbents can not be continuously reelected by absent minded voters: Name recognition doesn't always get you the best person for the job.

You can view and sign the petition here:

Here's some more information about this petition:
To establish term limits for the Senate not to exceed 12 years (two elections)and for the House not to exceed 6 years (three elections).

dtrx...I agree with you, the Republicans should of let us go over the cliff. I am so pissed off at Cristy and the Republicans from N.Y. for bad mouthing Boehner. How could they not know about all the pork in the Sandy bill? And people it's not just the Congress, it's the Senate and this administration. obama has spent this country out of control and he still wants pork and no cuts....hence forth the problem. Of coarse the Republicans will get the blame, but when the obamacare taxes hit them, who will they blame then? When they go from full time to part time or lose their job, who will they blame....

Once again, the Sandy Relief IS the pork in the original funding bill. The original bill was the National Disaster Relief 2012 amendment attached to the DOD authorization prior to Sandy hitting. The Sandy relief was added to that amendment (which failed to pass as an amendment to the DOD authorization.

anti-trust, (appropriate name)

Wrong again. The pork everyone is referring to has nothing to do with the Sandy amendment. A full one third or more of the bill has added pork budgeted for many things that have nothing at all to do with disaster relief of any kind.

Please do your own research and quit watching MSNBC to get your news. MSNBC is nothing but a Leftist propaganda rag, there is very little actual truth being told there.

Please do your own research and quit watching MSNBC to get your news. MSNBC is nothing but a Leftist propaganda rag, there is very little actual truth being told there

Clearly Fox is where you get the unbiased truth, right? Like suing and winning for the right to lie. Management directives to anchors instructing them how to word stories to paint Obama in a bad light and throwing a temper tantrum when Obama's declared a winner. Sounds like real unbiased reporting. Republican style.

Fox news:

Fox News executives exert a degree of editorial control over the content of their daily reporting. In the case of Fox News, some of this control comes in the form of daily memos issued by Fox News' Vice President of News, John Moody. In the documentary Outfoxed, former Fox News employees are interviewed to better understand the inner workings of Fox News. In memos from the documentary, Moody instructs employees on the approach to be taken on particular stories. Critics of Fox News claim that the instructions on many of the memos indicate a conservative bias. The Washington Post quoted Larry Johnson, a former part-time Fox News commentator, describing the Moody memos as "talking points instructing us what the themes are supposed to be, and God help you if you stray."^[68]

Former Fox News producer Charlie Reina explained, "The roots of Fox News Channel's day-to-day on-air bias are actual and direct. They come in the form of an executive memo distributed electronically each morning, addressing what stories will be covered and, often, suggesting how they should be covered. To the newsroom personnel responsible for the channel's daytime programming, The Memo is the Bible. If, on any given day, you notice that the Fox anchors seem to be trying to drive a particular point home, you can bet The Memo is behind it."^[69][70]

Photocopied memos from John Moody instructed the network's on-air anchors and reporters to use positive language when discussing pro-life viewpoints, the Iraq war, and tax cuts, as well as requesting that the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal be put in context with the other violence in the area.^[71] Such memos were reproduced for the film Outfoxed, which included Moody quotes such as, "The soldiers [seen on Fox in Iraq] in the foreground should be identified as 'sharpshooters,' not 'snipers,' which carries a negative connotation."

Two days after the 2006 election, The Huffington Post reported they had acquired a copy of a leaked internal memo from Mr. Moody that recommended: "…[L]et's be on the lookout for any statements from the Iraqi insurgents, who must be thrilled at the prospect of a Dem-controlled congress." Within hours of the memo's publication, Fox News anchor Martha McCallum, went on-air on the program The Live Desk with reports of Iraqi insurgents cheering the firing of Donald Rumsfeld and the results of the 2006 congressional election.^[72][

Govt. Reform will never happen. Govt will make sure of that.

Larry Fox was the only one talking about the pork in these bills, Only when the news is proven true (weather it be Libya or the fiscal cliff) that days or weeks latter the rest carry the news. Fox is the only one that puts Liberials with concertives on to discuss the topics. People get to hear both sides, somethng the rest are afraid of. I thank god for Fox, maybe that is why they have become #1. A lot of people are tired of the CNN's, MSNBC's that sound like they are part of the democratic Parties committies news releases. Fox is one of the few investigaing the stories that should be investigated. And maybe if the others did their jobs we would get more news out there and maybe people would see what is really happening and would have voted differently.

Larry Fox was the only one talking about the pork in these bills, Only when the news is proven true (weather it be Libya or the fiscal cliff) that days or weeks latter the rest carry the news. Fox is the only one that puts Liberials with concertives on to discuss the topics

Lol..........Nonsense. I've seen Fox's idea of balance. I watched a 5 panel round table on Fox with 4 bashing Obama on every right wing conspiracy theory and they had one fat guy who'd shrug every few minutes and say, you can't prove that in a disinterested tone. You people are friggin sheep if you think that's unbiased. A real liberal would have tore them a new one over their absurd ignorant comments. Next time you watch your "unbiased" Fox program try paying attention. Is that, "liberal" really defending his viewpoint or playing a role?

Larry Fox was the only one talking about the pork in these bills, Only when the news is proven true (weather it be Libya or the fiscal cliff) that days or weeks latter the rest carry the news.

Other news organizations wait until news is proven true before doing the story? How irresponsible of them. Clearly Fox has the right idea. If it's unproven they just make things up to fill in the blanks? You simply prove my point.

My paycheck is $57 short. That's by-weekly. This sucks. I know the article mentions that the middle-class is getting a break, but I don't see it. MSNBC speaks with forked tongue!

You've gotten a pay check already?

Golfsleft

Ptrobably not. For some reason people like Francle like to lie about stuff like this just to look important. They don't seem to know how ignorant they look. They also have zero idea how payrolls work.

Actually almost three years tnt, since it was part of the original 2009 stimulus bill (and actually 1/3 of the cost of that bill was the 2% reduction in those FICA withholdings.) Another 1/3 of the stimulus was for the extended unemployment/COLA benefits. Only 1/3 was actually for true stimulus projects (over a five year period.)

I agree.

I fail to see how Francle has received a two week paycheck with the restored 6.2%, when this bill only pass three days ago.

Not that they wont start paying what they were three years ago, but why lie about getting a bi weekly paycheck just a few days after this bill passes.

Golf/Dennis,

I DID get a paycheck (and am not lying about it) and is was 60 bucks less that my last one. Thanks for asking.....

Dennis and Mike,

Don't go around calling people liars when they are telling the truth. Most companies that have to process paychecks ahead of time had already put back in place the original FICA deductions since no bill had been approved and they were already due to lapse. You both owe francle an apology.

Don't go around calling people liars when they are telling the truth. Most companies that have to process paychecks ahead of time had already put back in place the original FICA deductions since no bill had been approved and they were already due to lapse. You both owe francle an apology

Not true. Even those already set to go the restored rate wouldn't have it applied until January 1st. Even if you made the maximum rate at $110,000 per year or whatever it is it wouldn't be $60 in three days. The most that would apply would be on 2 or 3 days pay and wouldn't be noticeable. He's lying.

Patriot +1

Do you really feel sorry for people making $35,000 per month because they'll be paying 4.5% more and only on the amount over $400,000? They're still paying little more than half what they were 30 years ago. You'll get few other people to share your tears. Even republicans believed they paid to little by a margin of 2 to 1.. Quit beating a dead horse.

cheaphoarde,

ROTFLMAO, you made me spit coffee all over the computer with that quote!