The Super Congress created by
the recent debt ceiling increase deal is a typical example of something
nefarious attached to a bigger bill that is rushed through Congress without
giving Members ample opportunity to consider the full ramifications. This
commission may turn into an early Christmas present for the well-heeled
lobbyists of K Street. This is because the commission presents a huge
opportunity for lobbying firms to sneak their client's pet projects and
issues into whatever legislation is created by the commission. The fact that
automatic cuts to defense are named if the committee deadlocks simply signals
to the military industrial complex to bring their A game to the lobbying
effort.
One red flag I am constantly
aware of in my position as a Congressman is that highly complex and
convoluted legislation frequently has dangerous provisions hidden in the fine
print. Elaborate legislative packages force lawmakers to take the bad with
the good, and often if they refuse, they are accused of voting against the
positive provision - never mind the blatant Constitutional violations in the
bill, the spending, the waste, and the unchecked expansion of government. I
don't usually have to read too much of a bill like that before encountering
something unconstitutional, or simply unwise. Then I have to vote no.
That doesn't seem to be the
case with a majority of legislators, unfortunately. In order to ram through
one special interest's favorable treatment or giveaway, a certain amount of
horse-trading is done. The end result is mammoth bills with myriads of
unrelated provisions that favor those with the best lobbyists at the expense
of everyone else.
The creation of a 12 member
committee to preside over $1.5 trillion in spending decisions, and the
exclusion of the rest of Congress also means lobbying firms can focus their
efforts on an anointed few, which is certainly more manageable for them than
having to deal with the entire Congress. Every cut considered will, of
course, have a recipient on the other end whose livelihood is being
threatened. The probable outcome is that any cuts realized will be more a
function of lobbying prowess than the merits or demerits of the actual programs
on the chopping block.
Make no mistake - I am
enthusiastically for cutting government spending. The goal should be to
eventually reduce government down to the size and scope of its constitutional
limitations. However, the process of getting there must also be
constitutional. Concentrating such special authority to fast track
legislation affecting so many special interests to a small, select committee
is nothing more than an unprecedented power grab. Only fears of an impending
catastrophe could have motivated Members to allow this legislation to be
rushed through Congress. The founding fathers had strong feelings about
taxation without representation and under no circumstances would they have
felt excluding 98% of Congress from fiscal decisions was appropriate.
I see nothing good coming out
of this Super Congress. I suspect it will be highly vulnerable to corruption
and special interests. No benefit can come from such careless disregard of
the Founders' design.
