Congress Proves Their Infancy Status; Has Chance to Lead but FAILS!

By Brian L. Baker

President Reagan once said, “Government is like a baby…an alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.” Congress proved him right this week!

Every major national news outlet reported that the Congress rejected calls from citizens and national leaders to take an election-year break from pork-barrel spending as they passed budget plans that would torpedo hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts.

Democrats and Republicans in Congress voted to keep spending tax-dollars on “Pork Projects” in our federal budget. They further voted to NOT re-instate the Bush tax-cuts. With reference to President Reagan, we are watching the baby eat and soil her diaper right in front of our eyes.

Since when, in the course of our nations history, do tax increases help a struggling economy? How can Congress talk about economic “stimulus” packages out of one side of their mouth and job killing tax increases out of the other? Why does Congress want us to believe that a one-time tax rebate is good for us, but a permanent tax cut it is not? Is Congress more concerned about their “pork”, than the prosperity of its citizens?

Missouri is not allowed to deficit spend and according to our state constitution we must have a balanced budget. Unfortunately, the federal government can “deficit-spend.” Further, these federal budget plans are nonbinding, and they highlight the difficult choices on taxes and spending facing the next President and Congress. Binding votes on the expiring tax-cuts will be left to his successor and the Congress that's elected in November. Regardless of your political party, this makes the 2008 elections all the more important.

Politicians in Washington have opted for a politically expedient “stimulus” package that will do little to stimulate the economy, but may be enough to stimulate their re-election campaigns. When the rebate becomes available, take it – it may be the only thing you’ll get from Congress, unless they give you some of their “sweet & sour” pork.

The Missouri legislature is already working on legislation to curb illegal immigration – a job that belongs to the federal government. The Missouri legislature is working to provide better access and affordability in our health care markets, but the federal government has put up barriers that stifle innovation and our ability to implement new ideas. The Missouri legislature is working to improve public education, but again the federal “No Child Left Behind” Act has too many big-government strings attached. What is a state to do?

Recently, at a “Coffee with Cleaver” in Raymore, I heard Congressman Cleaver defend the practice “pork-spending” due to the fact that it represents such a small part of the federal budget. Many congressmen and congresswomen argue that the practice of inserting "earmarked" spending into legislation is seen by both parties as a birthright “power of the purse” awarded to Congress by the Founding Fathers. I tend to disagree. Our founding fathers separated from a government that was abusing its tax and spend powers.

Earmarks have exploded in number and cost in recent years, accompanied by charges of abuse and public outrage over egregious examples like the proposed "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska, which would have cost more than $200 million to serve an island with a population of about 50.

Since Congress is failing to lead, Missouri should take steps to help our citizens by reducing our state income tax burden. One proposal (HB1340) would phase in the full deductibility of our federal income tax liability from our state income taxes. Another proposal, to be introduced by the end of the month, will reduce the state individual-income tax providing real tax relief for Missourians, especially the middle class.

These proposals are intended to allow people keep more of their own money, to allow them to make decisions for themselves and their families, to give individuals more liberty in their consumption, savings, and debt retirement. If Washington refuses to offer relief…it will be left to the states.

By contrast, 20 House Democrats from St. Louis and Kansas City have introduced a bill (HB2131) this year that will deny citizens more liberty in their consumption, savings, and debt retirement. This bill increases income taxes up to 50% for middle class families in a time when families need to keep more of their hard-earned income, not less. HB2131 would increase taxes for ALL income levels with the largest tax-increase going to those who make $20,000 a year or more! Apparently, some believe government knows how best to spend your money than you do.

If we continue to ignore the long-term benefits of lower taxes and instead, embrace the “feel good economics” of Washington where Americans are baited into a $600 tax rebate check while Congress imposes a tax increase roughly twice that size, not only will Missouri continue lose representation in Washington, but the individual liberty of each Missourian will be eroded. Let’s be thankful, as Will Rogers observed that we are not getting all of the government we are paying for.

Congress is promising spending that would enlarge the deficit and/or require large tax increases. They further argue that tax cuts would require applying a meat cleaver to spending. Maybe a meat cleaver would be a wiser investment than a $200 million dollar bridge to help a population of 50.

Maybe President Reagan was right. Excuse me while I go try to change a diaper!