April 05, 2006
Open Letter To Trent Lott
The Honorable Trent Lott
487 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Lott:
First, please know that I am an American first and a conservative second and a Republican third. If I were a citizen of your state, please believe that I would not vote for you in the next election. Fortunately, I live in Texas.
Recently, according to the newspapers you stated, and I quote: I'll just say this about the so-called porkbusters. I'm getting damn tired of hearing from them. They have been nothing but trouble..." If you did say that sir, you are an idiot. NEVER should a United States Senator disdain from hearing from citizens of this United States. Never should a Senator be so piqued that he insults citizens expressing an interest in how this country is run, let alone how this country is funded. You don't have to agree, but by gosh you don't have to denegrate the concerns of its citizens. Many of the "porkbusters" are Republicans and reside in your own state.
The major issue is spending $700 million (that is with a M to move a rail line from where it survived a major hurricane to a more inland area. Why Senator? Have you never heard the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?"
Tim Chapman even caught the Senate Appropriations folk LYING about the project noting that the claim was that the CSX rail line was only operating "on a temporary basis." Senator, that rail line has been back at normal service levels since January 31, 2006. Care to explain that to the Porkbusters?
Apparantly not. Do you think that the Porkbusters (of which I am a proud member) are encroaching on your political turf? Do you think that we can't see what you are doing in terms of garnering monies for your state at the expense of others?
Oh, we know that this is how the game is played, we understand that you vote for other Senator's pork projects so that they will vote for yours. We understand that you really don't give a damn about the fiscal integrity of the United States as long as you get to say you brought money into Mississippi. Surely we do!
And Senator, we also understand that your days as a spender are numbered. If the good people of Mississippi had wanted a tax and spend politician they would have elected a tax and spend politician rather than you, a politician that preaches conservative values of fiscal restraint. One that preaches the value of being responsible. In your March 7, 2006 press release you noted:
In the fall Congress approved $2.75 billion to fund highway transportation aid packages for Gulf Coast states. As a result, DOT provided $25 million last year and $740 million for the state's road repair work in January, the Senators said.Now, spending money to get the highways damaged by Katrina seems justified as say opposed to the same amount on an unbuilt "bridge to nowhere." But $700,000,000.00 to move a railroad that is perfectly functioning?
Tuesday's award of $248 million is in addition to the earlier figures, bringing the total federal funding for emergency road repairs in Mississippi to more than $1 billion, Cochran and Lott said. The total also funds the cost of removing debris from highways immediately after the storm.
At one time I thought you were a fairly stalwart fellow. No more, Senator, no more. Now, I see, you are just another pork hustler in the halls of congress. No different than any Democrat or any other tax and spend. Wait, I'm mistaken, you are a tax cut and spend anyway congress-critter.
You may be running on the Republican ticket Senator, but you are no Republican. Shame on you!
GM Roper
UPDATE: From a source in DC, Trent Lott said this Last year as reported in Roll Call [subscription required]: "The way I do it is, I fold them into bills where you can't find it," Lott said. "Ive been around here long enough to know how to bury it."
Hmmm, Mr. Lott, can you hang your head in shame and then apologize to the taxpayers?
I am becoming more and more cynical about our elected representatives. Has integrity completely evaporated?
Posted by Always On Watch at April 5, 2006 08:58 PM
Republicans need to know what they are elected for, and that they are replaceable.
Those few Republican that have practiced what they preac deserve our thanks.
Each Republican, like Trent Lott, who have porkbarrelitus, deserve letters like this. They have been warned.
Posted by Ben USN (Ret) at April 6, 2006 04:33 AM
oooh and ouch. I too am getting sick and tired of this bulloney. What happened to these idiOts representing the people???
Posted by Raven at April 6, 2006 05:41 AM
Two Points:
1. As I describe it, "The American Solution" is do just throw more and more money at problems. Create more Departments, agencies, commissions, etc. No one checks to see it these bigger and bigger government programs actually do what they were meant to do....and if they have worked themselves out of a job.
2. The other part of all this is bringing home pork to your voters. Reps and Dems are equally guilty. The problem, of course, is there ARE some worthy causes. They mixed in with the entirely unworthy. Added to that are some that worthy, but should not be funded at the amounts and for year after year.
Speaking of just one member of Congress...I wonder if it as struck Maxine Waters that her district in no better off after millions poured in?
Grump....let me, and all, keep most of what they earn.
Posted by tad at April 6, 2006 11:52 AM
You tell 'em, GM! And at least we now know Trent Lott is listening, even if he doesnt like us or want to hear us.
Posted by QuickRob at April 6, 2006 07:19 PM
