EckerNet.Com

…to watch your wallets.

It’s that time of year again! The politicians are back to work.

Our state legislature is back in session, with new legislators taking their oaths earlier this week. Now they begin to deal with the $5 billion dollar deficit that Minnesota faces. And it will be an interesting battle since the DFL is apparently unwilling to make any sacrifices themselves….no, that’s just something the common folk do.

But even worse….our Congress critters are in session as well. And while it’s amusing to watch the drama that is Franken vs Coleman and Blagovich/Burris vs Everyone, it’s also serious. With Obama ready to let the US run over a trillion dollar deficit, it suddenly makes Minnesota’s troubles look petty.

But the drama doesn’t stop there. On the first day of the 111th Congress, over 400 pieces of legislation were introduced. Some of them mundane and routine, others…..not so much.

H.J.RES.1: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
I applaud the effort, but with his Holiness already talking trillion dollar deficits, it seems a bit unlikely to happen.

H.J.RES.5: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President.
The author Rep. Jose Serrano must be a big Obama fan and is already setting him up to be declared King-For-Life. Just when I thought we were getting over the dynastic presidential politics we’ve been stuck in for the last couple decades.

H.J.RES.7: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation.
There were actually quite a few of these. There were also a lot preventing the automatic pay raise that our Congress critters get. Once again, I applaud the effort

H.R.19: To require employers to conduct employment eligibility verification.
Baby steps….in a week all federal contractors are required to use E-Verify, and already 100,000 businesses are using it. This is the next logical step….it’s that L word that’s the reason it hasn’t a chance in hell of passing Congress.

H.R.24: To redesignate the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.
Well this is just gonna piss off a certain Marine I know who loves to say that “Yeah, the Marines are a department of the Navy…..the Men’s Department”.
Psst, CC, send your complaints to Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3]

H.R.25: To promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.
Abolishing the IRS… God bless you sir!! Although I’m not sure I like the administered by the states part. I’m already paying out my ears for a “better Minnesota”, I don’t think I can afford the whole country as well.

H.R.39: To preserve the Arctic coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, as wilderness in recognition of its extraordinary natural ecosystems and for the permanent good of present and future generations of Americans.
Declare ANWR off limits? Sure!! After all, no need to drill further. It’s not like gas prices will ever go up ever again. That whole supply vs demand thing is just a myth!!

H.R.48: To amend section 42 of title 18, United States Code, popularly known as the Lacey Act, to add certain species of carp to the list of injurious species that are prohibited from being imported or shipped.
Well the economy is going to hell. We’re still at war. Terrorists are everywhere. Iran damn near has the bomb. Tom Cruise is making movies again. But heh, at least we got that carp thing figured out right?? We’re making possession of carp a felony offense….God bless America!

H.R.73: To provide for the collection of data on traffic stops.
Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee is still on her racial profiling kick. Everyone say it with me….”Aaaaaah, isn’t she cute!”. Heh, at least I wasn’t being racist! At the very least, at least Rep. Jackson has given up her search for the flag Neil Armstrong planted on Mars……no, seriously.

H.R.157: To provide for the treatment of the District of Columbia as a Congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives, and for other purposes.
Proposed by the non-voting delegate from DC…..everyone say it with me….”Aaaaah, isn’t he cute!”. See now it’s not sexist! Wait…..it’s a woman?? Seriously? Wow, I mean I guess I looked at the picture and just figured. Well shucks….sorry, my bad.
Either way I can just imagine her stamping her feet on the house floor, whining that she wants to join the club.

H.R.201: To provide that no automatic pay adjustment for Members of Congress shall be made in the year following a fiscal year in which there is a Federal budget deficit.
I think every member of Congress proposed a variation of these. That’s gonna be a fun conference committee.

H.R.226: To prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating the fairness doctrine.
Even Obama has suggested he’s not going for this but never hurts to be sure.

H.R.257: To prevent children’s access to firearms.
Oh I see!! I didn’t realize it was that simple!! If we have a law saying don’t do it, then it won’t happen!! Oh it makes perfect sense!!! Too bad we don’t do that with things like murder, rape, robbery, assault, etc. Actually it’s just Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee off her racial profiling kick and now on her “guns are evil!” kick.

S.J.RES.1: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to limiting the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve.
But if they can’t serve in Congress, what else are they gonna do? Who the hell is going to hire an ego-driven drooling moron for any other job??

S.6: A bill to restore and enhance the national security of the United States.
It’s amusing this was proposed by Senator Harry Reid. Yeah the guy that declared that the war in Iraq is lost and The Surge© has failed wants to lecture the rest of us on how to keep America safe. See what I mean about ego-driven drooling morons?? Seriously, not even McDonalds would hire this guy!

S.38: A bill to establish a United States Boxing Commission to administer the Act, and for other purposes.
Because with all our nations problems, the one that really stands out is the state of boxing. This one was proposed by John McCain, which kinda makes you wonder. Was this one of his big agenda items if he had been elected President?

Oh and there were approximately one metric shit ton of bills on immigration….from both sides of the issue. Kinda making me re-think my prediction that immigration would not become a huge issue this session.