Residual Forces

As I posted on yesterday, Congress’s approval ratings are hovering around 6 feet under. The American people are rapidly losing trust (admittedly, what little we had left) with our Government. And no, it isn’t all Bush’s fault.

The elected officials in Washington still refuse to be open and honest with their pork spending. CNN recently called all 435 members of the US House to see if they would release their list of pork requests. You see, Pelosi promised to bring transparency to the process last December following Democrat’s taking of the House.

Well, no big surprise to us Americans, the members of Congress were offended at the idea.

(CNN) — Despite the new Democratic congressional leadership’s promise of “openness and transparency” in the budget process, a CNN survey of the House found it nearly impossible to get information on lawmakers’ pet projects.

Initially, staffers for only 34 of the 435 members of the House contacted by CNN between June 13 and 15 were willing to supply a list of their earmark requests for fiscal year 2008, which begins on October 1. Some of those 34 staffers simply pointed callers to Web sites where those earmark requests were posted.

I checked the MN Delegation out, and only Rep. Jim Oberstar (D MN8) responded, he refused to release his requests. No surprise, as the Transportation chair. You remember the bridge to nowhere, right?

(The CNN story has a link to check out all members by state if you want to see how others responded)

Tough love: It is time for Republicans to be open and honest with voters. It was this behavior that lead to the tidal wave in 2006. No, it wasn’t just Iraq and Foley. BUT also this attitude that it is none of our business what the business of Congress is. If Republicans ever want to regain the trust of American voters, they need to prove they can be trusted with our money.

I would expect our 3 Minnesota Republican members of Congress would gladly release their requests to show they are far more responsible than the Democrats. We know the Democrats are requesting millions and millions for their special interest friends.

Transparency: It is shameful the way Pelosi and Democrats have lied to Americans. They had no intention of cleaning up Washington, despite how her and the DCCC made that ‘Change’ the cornerstone of their campaigns across the nation.

What to do: Republicans in this Congress need to be open and honest about what they are doing. They need to show Americans that they can be trusted while the Democrats are stonewalling and operating in secrecy. Pelosi and the Democrats won’t do what they said and pull back the curtain of secrecy that shields Washington activities so the minority Republicans need to set an example and take credit for it.

If Republicans in mass all step out from behind this curtain, deal openly and honestly with Americans, and cut back on the pork themselves as a team. It will reverse the trend that is plaguing Congress. As that poll showed, we really don’t trust anyone there anymore.

If all 200 (or so) House Republicans released their requests, promised to withdraw frivolous requests, and expose their own habits, it would put pressure on the Democrats to match. If they didn’t, as i suspect it would, it would be devastating politically for them and give Republicans all the fuel needed to run their 08 NRCC campaigns.

Lesson learned?: That is, if Republicans have learned anything from 2006. I hope the spending requests have dropped. That was one of the main problems for Republicans internally last year. The fiscal conservatives were pissed off at the pork. I guess if Republicans are still spending like drunken liberals (some people hate me using sailors), that would explain why they are refusing to be honest with us.

Will Republicans release their requests? I know Washington breeds this type of corruption as everyone there (only lobbyists and special interests with their hands out) keeps making it feel like you have to request the pork or else, but you could go public and expose the society of corruption that is ruining our country.

I call on the Minnesota Republicans: Rep. Bachmann (MN6); Kline (MN2); and Ramstad (MN3) to release there requests to set an example for others to follow.