Leid Stories - 10/18/13

Democrats and Republicans Feast on Pork at Debt Ceiling Banquet

 

Old habits die hard in Washington. When it comes to earmarks – the proverbial “bacon” to be brought home – old habits don’t die at all.

 

The down-to-the-wire agreement Senate leaders worked out Wednesday to avert the catastrophe of a default on the government’s $17-trillion debt burden had several “surprise” projects in it that most legislators in the House and Senate didn’t know they had approved – pretty much like how Obamacare legislation was passed.

 

In crisis there is opportunity, and it appears Democrats and Republicans seized the opportunity during their closed-door negotiations to dine high on the hog. Billions of dollars approved for pork-barrel projects, and it’s a mystery how they were budgeted for and by whose authority.