News-Record.com

... mixed feelings about this one.

Compassion for the less fortunate is NOT what the majority of American's voted for. (As an aside, they voted for staying the poorly thought out course in Iraq, keeping the Bible in West Virgina, preventing them faggot preverts from having the same rights as other perverts, say male predators married to females ... but mostly they voted against a bombastic ass called John Kerry - who could not even figure out how to contrast his schrapnal-leg x-ray against GWB's dental x-ray).

They also voted for a Conservative-in-name-only President that has enabled his political supporters to rape and plunder the country to the tune of Trillions in personal and corporate wealth, which frankly leaves nothing left for the less connected - leaving them "in the cold" so to speak. We're up from 6 Trillion in debt to over 8 Trillion, not counting Katrina, or Iraq, or today's $7 Billion in Flu Shots.

Eventually we'll have to pay for all of this - including the 3.1 billion the letter writer wants re-distributed to the poor folks trying to keep from being frozen out. [I'm just full of jokes.]

Perhaps this could have come from ExxonMobil, the 7th largest nation on earth - from which $3.1 billion represents a single month's profit.

And of course ExxonMobil represent only one of many highly profitable energy companies (bought any gas lately?) - a 10% "charitable contibution" from them would more than pay for this 3.1 billion dollar request.

But don't hold your breath.

ExxonMobil Corp. has given out $197,200 to federal candidates for the current cycle (I'm not sure what "the current cycle" really means) and of that 91% or $179,850 has gone to Republican candidates.

In second place is Outback Steakhouse Inc., with 90% of its $196,000 in candidate contributions to Republican candidates.

HomeDepot Inc. was third after they gave 89% of their $227,500 in candidate contributions to Republican candidates.

Fourth was R.J. Reynolds giving 87% of their $327,500 federal candidate money to Republican candidates.

Fifth was Wachovia Corp. that gave 84% of its $159,000 in federal candidate contributions to Republican candidates.

... any wonder why the "Republicans" are the Party of Big Business?

Thank you, and God Bless America.

http://www.tray.com/FECInfo/index.html-ssi

From Various sites:

"On October 26, 2005, ExxonMobil announced a record-breaking $9.9 billion profit for last quarter [on top of a $25 billion profit in 2004]. As if that weren't enough, Congress recently gave the oil and gas industry, including ExxonMobil, $10.7 billion in tax breaks for 2005 - 2009."

"ExxonMobil company donated $3 million to the Hurricane Katrina and Rita relief efforts."

"ExxonMobil's political action committee (PAC) and ExxonMobil employees gave $8.3 million in campaign contributions to federal candidates and political parties between 1990 and 2004, including $250,000 to the president's 2004 inaugural fund.Between 1998 and 2004, ExxonMobil gave more than $15 million to organizations working to undermine domestic and international efforts to cut global warming pollution."

"Sixty votes would have passed this amendment. However, only 53 senators (Democrat and Republican) voted for it. Both of our senators (Dole and Burr) voted against this increase in funding for the poor. I am so ashamed of them."

No doubt. I guess you've forgotten that it has been proven by a Nobel laureate in economics that helping poor people only makes them lazy and leads to more poverty. Obviously, keeping fuel price aid away from poor people is protecting them from becoming even more poor than they are now.

Here's my suggestion: federalize all private industry in the US and put Jimmie Carter in charge of redistributing the bounty. Then all those habitat for humanity houses could come with a free lifetime supply of heating oil.

I have no evidence of this, but I wonder what other personal pork projects were attached to this bill? It has been my experence that there is never a bill put before the senate that has a single purpose such as helping the needy with their heating bills. West Virginia is living proof of this. Just ride through that state and see how many times you can count the name 'Robert Byrd' attached to some highways,bridges,dams,etc. These were not approved by the senate as stand alone bills.

Please tell the whole story instead of telling a half truth. If you don't have all the facts then don't tell it.
The amendment would have effective shut down the Government(The House had adjourned and most memember gone for the weekend, so the Senate decided continue the amendment) until the overall Government spending bill can be passed. States will be allowed to advance the money needed for home heating and then be reimbursed when the Government Spending bill is passed.
The following is the rest of the story from a Penn. newspaper:

The Senate vote came after senators rejected, on a 53-39 vote, an amendment by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, that would have increased funds for the Community Services Block Grant program, which provides money to the states to help low income people with expenses such as housing, food and heating costs.

Under the House-crafted bill, funds through Nov. 18 would go out at the fiscal 2005 rate or at the level in House or Senate-passed bills for fiscal 2006, whichever is lower.

Harkin argued that while this approach wouldn't mean much for most programs, it would be a blow to the 6.5 million poor Americans served by the CSBG because the House-passed bill for 2006 reduces CSBG spending to $320 million, half the $637 million level approved for 2005.

"These cuts to essential programs for needy families and children, including victims of Katrina, are callous and ill-advised," he said.

But Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, said states could advance money to ensure that no one is deprived of services and that the Senate would push for full funding of the program in the final bill.

He said that, with the House already gone for the week, passage of the Harkin amendment would affectively bring much of the government to a halt.

The only two spending bills signed into law cover Interior Department and environmental programs and the legislative branch of government.

---

The complete article can be read at: http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/28-09302005-548775.html

And Neocon you were right. Your favorite person from WVA had tacked on 5 billion and Hillary had tacked on 4.1 billion to the original spending bill which contained a large increase in home heating already. The original increase in heating assistance was sponsered by a Republican from Maine and a Democrat from another northern state,(Montana I believe) which are expected to hit the hardest.

Since it was stated that this was the second such attempt to pass an additional heating bill I found that it had been attached to a defence spending bill by Sen. Kerry (D Mass).
Earlier in October, Sen. John Kerry (search), D-Mass., picked up 50 votes, 10 short of the 60 needed, when he tried to attach similar spending to a defense spending bill.

The additional money is to be attached to the Emergency Spending Bill, which it seems we have every year because of tack-on spending to the regular budjet causing it to drag on and on, and is a sure shot to pass later this month.(sources about a dozen newspapers found by googling)

The Senate on Wednesday rejected several other efforts to stretch the budget to obtain more money for popular programs. Sen. Robert Byrd (news, bio, voting record), D-W.Va., sought an extra $5 billion for education grants for low-income children and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., wanted $4 billion more for the Individuals with Disabilities Act.

___

Nemo, can you please cite the study by the nobel laureate? I'm not familiar with it. I'd like to read where it states that keeping poor people cold is helping them.

And Neocon, it bears pointing out that pork is not restricted to Robert Byrd and the democrats. The preposterous $200 million "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska is sponsored by the head of the transportation committee, who is a Republican. And his payoff for the bill is that the airport on the island will be named after him.

As I've written a couple of times, I'm in favor of fair competition in the marketplace, and oil companies making a profit. I do not, however, see how we are not being gouged. And I just can't understand why taxpayers have to give the most profitable companies in history an additional tax break. Instead of giving $10 billion to Exxon and the diminishing number of oil companies, why can't we subsidize the heating oil prices we're paying? The oil companies will still come out ahead, our President will see to that.

Wow!!! I have really learned a lot this morning. Thanks to all for such informative and well-researched information. It is scary that all bills can have such junk attached. Looks like that would be a good way to control Congress, stop the attachments.

The bridge in Alaska still blows my mind. Wonder who will get the contract to build it. As does the big, totally unnecessary bridge in New Bern. Another example of someone's ego being stroked I guess.

Howie,nowhere did I state that pork spending was the trademark of the democrats. I'm for cutting out ALL pork spending and I don't care who sponsors it.

But..... Robert KKK Byrd did not get the title of 'the king of pork' for nutin'!

Neo, I was just trying to show balance. Unless one of our regular posters is a congressman, it sounds like we can all agree that there's entirly too much pork in the government.

" ... it sounds like we can all agree there is too much pork in the government."

Well not Mr. Integrity - a.k.a Tom Delay, recently infamous for declaring the Federal Budget to be pork free. (Recently infamous for some other things too).

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050914-120153-3878r.htm

"House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said yesterday that Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that he declared an "ongoing victory," and said there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget.

"Mr. DeLay was defending Republicans' choice to borrow money and add to this year's expected $331 billion deficit to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief. Some Republicans have said Congress should make cuts in other areas, but Mr. DeLay said that doesn't seem possible.

"My answer to those that want to offset the spending is sure, bring me the offsets, I'll be glad to do it. But nobody has been able to come up with any yet," the Texas Republican told reporters at his weekly briefing.

"Asked if that meant the government was running at peak efficiency, Mr. DeLay said, "Yes, after 11 years of Republican majority we've pared it down pretty good."

"Mr. DeLay said the budget this year was pared down and 100 programs or offices were eliminated in this year's spending bills. "We have been doing that for 11 years," he said. He said it's an "ongoing process" that will be more complete after this year's budget process, which calls for cuts to Medicaid and other entitlement programs.

"Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican, agreed that Republicans "have been more fiscally sound than the Democrats were in their decades in the House." He acknowledged that "we're still trying to improve," and noted Mr. DeLay is leading the fight to reform the budget process."

... if Congress has in fact been doing a good job of the past 11 years, God Bless 'em for their continued good work.

Think how bad it would be if a spendthrift group were running things.

I Love Tom Delay.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9557669/site/newsweek

Good work JDR. Sounds like Tom should listen to his president more often. When asked about holding off on some of his upcoming tax cuts in order to fund the Katrina rebuilding effort, Mr. Bush said that we'd pay for it by more efficient spending. My first thought was why do we still have inefficient spending with the compassionate conservatives running the show for five years? It doesn't sound like the president and Mr. Delay are reading from the same playbook.

Mrproduce, as usual you are right on the money.(pun intended) It was the letter's writer's intent to portray the mainly republican (and a couple of responsible democratic)senators as cold hearted misers that can't wait to trounce on the poor and deprive them of heat this winter. This is a well worn page out of the liberal handbook, but it doesn't work as well as in the past thanks to today's instant news sources that are ready and willing to point out the truth about their underhanded tactics.

Neo, I attempt to be fair and balanced about things and a voice of reason calling out amidst a sea of howling half truths. The admendment was attached at the last minute "again" with some hoping that it might fly and others using it only for cannon fodder to fire at those who voted against it. I have found that no matter who submits the package, be they Dems or Repubs will howl that the other side wouldn't vote for it, and that is a half truth. A half truth is not half a lie, it is a lie, an attempt to mislead, no matter how you look at it.
Pork has always been a problem with our budgets, regardless who is in power and will continue to be until the people get smart and call for a Balanced Budget Admendment and throw those out who do not vote for it. An Emergency fund could then be set up to cover much of the unexpected expenditures such as storm damage. There would be plenty available. Foreign bribery and/or spending (one in the same for many of the countries which we throw it at) must be cut to the bone. With 90% of that cut, countries who need and deserved would be well served and we would have a surplus to pay toward the deficit which we now have. NO PAPER BALANCE ALLOWED, it has to be real. Unfortunately the same folks will continue to be re-elected and their clones elected because people love PORK.

Sounds like everyone is agreeing more or less on this one. I abhor the wastefulness of our government and incessant pork spending on both sides of the isle. The $250 million bridge in Alaska is a perfect example. Republicans are supposed to be a party of fiscal conservatism, but they pile on the pork with the best of them.

I shudder at where this spending is going to lead us. This and illegal immigration are two areas where I have big problems with the Bush admin.

the answer to this one is obvious: first of all, the current administration doesn't 'recognize' poor people...they're just plain unaware of them. second, how can we heat poor people's homes when we have such huge obligations to Halliburton and other major corporate players...not to mention paying for the 'misadventure' in iraq. hopefully, the republicans have played out their hand and people will get rid of them and their policies of greed during the next 2 elections.

Howard, Howard Dean, is that you in disguise?
Where do you come up with such drivel except from the far left hate sites. If I had nothing to contribute I believe I would just say nothing and not show just how unoriginal my thinking is.

Agreed with MrP Tony. Your statements are right out of the Howard Dean playbook and add nothing of intelligence or meaning to the conversation.

The govt. handed out $2K debit cards to low income Katrina victims and is supplying 300,000 trailers for them to live in courtesy of you and me the taxpayers. I haven't noticed Wilma victims whining and getting all these bennies as they are more self sufficient.

Why didn't you mention the other 30 year old and counting playbook classics like Republicans are going to yank social security from grandma and force her to eat Alpo?

If the Dems would come up with a solid vision instead of constant whining, bombthrowing, race baiting, class warfare, eeevil corporations, etc., then maybe they would have a better chance at the ballot box.

JDR,
Why not tell us where the democrats get all their money?????
Lets not forget Teddys big dig in Mass.
When you talk pork how can you leave out Basnight and Black???
Now if you really want to help all people with heating cost. Cut out the sales tax on heating products this winter!!How do you pay for it? Easy you cut out state PORK for just one year.The people get lower heating cost,and there is no paper work. Will it happen? HELL no we have to projects like the high speed internet projects like Bill Faison of Orange County is running for his rich friends. In all goverment there PORK over here Pork over there, Pork, Pork, Pork everwhere.
Except to help the people, its all about helping the greedy. Fereral, State, Democrat,Republican it all the same.

Good point,dog bites back. Also I would like to see some of the liberal posters here do a little research into where Ted Kennedy keeps his family fortune stashed overseas in order to keep from paying taxes on the vast majority of it. I find it sickening that a wealthy senator who harps constantly about 'tax cuts for the wealthiest americans' goes to extraordinary lenghts to keep from paying those taxes.