Reining In Congress ...

Musing for a moment on ways to rein in Congress's reckless and wasteful spending habits ... Here's a better version of "Pay to Play".

Most people know that recklessly spending Other People's Money (OPM or "our" tax money) is a seductive temptation our legislators just can't seem to refrain from; equally, most people understand that when it's YOUR money - either going into or out of their own pockets that there's a lot less carelessness involved.

Keeping this fundamental aspect of human nature in mind perhaps our legislators should be required to be the FIRST to pay their share of any bills they introduce and pass in the future.

Before they are called to vote, the Office of Management and Budget could prepare a report showing the cost to every American citizen for the proposed legislation and then calculate each member of Congress' share.

Let's not forget though, that we want to be sure to apply Obama Socialist Principle #1 - "Each according to his ability to Pay".

Therefore, while it adds complication and more work, the OMB will have to look at each member's net worth - and because we know these rascals have already defeated the financial reporting rules by limiting meaningful disclosures on spouses' incomes and financial interests, the OMB will have to determine their "household" net worth - and each member's share will be adjusted proportionately (read upwards) based upon how wealthy they are in contrast to each other and to the rest of us.

Next the OMB will need to calculate the carrying or interest costs of the legislation since we're already running a deficit and otherwise someone else will have to carry the burden in future years - since that's our children and grandchildren and they have no voice or representation in the debate over the merits, if any, of the legislation but will assume the expense of it when they begin working for their own earned incomes.

Again to be fair and since Obama has determined that half of the deficit will be eliminated in 10 years we'll use an amortization of only 20 years to compute interest.

Now, also since Congress gets far better perquisites, and benefits than the rest of us at taxpayer expense; for the privilege of being our legislators each member gets to prepay the first year's interest and that is added to their graduated share of the legislation's cost. The interest for each of the following 19 years will be invoiced to them each year.

When the clerk calls the roll for a vote, each member of Congress dutifully files down to cast their vote with checkbook, though cash is preferred because we all still remember the Congressional checkwriting scandal from a few years ago, or credit card in hand. If they choose to use plastic, they also have to pay the card processing fees.

Once they have a receipt showing that they have paid, each member can proceed to cast his or her vote !

If Joe Biden was still seated can you imagine how quickly Mr. Liberal would turn into a Fiscal Conservative ... Okay, you get the point.