(Editorial) According to Rasmussen (2014, November 25), after three years of dismally low approval numbers, members of the House and Senate approval ratings remain in single digits. The reason is simple – 80% of the Americans polled do not believe that Congress works for the middle class. If you are curious why politicians are re-elected then results from the same poll suggest that a full 92% of the respondents believe that the members of Congress are re-elected because of a rigged system.
Despite low approval ratings, the Congressional representatives continue to proceed as if they are “doing the work of the people.” Actually, though, last night was not a reason for voters to change their minds because Congress failed to consider the American taxpayer. Instead they sided with Corporations.
The House has been considering the legislation H.R. 83, titled Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Rules Committee, 2014). The text was heavily lobbied by banks, attempting to repeal the Dodd-Frank legislation enacted after the 2008 economic meltdown.
Sadly the politihieves in the House sold out the American taxpayer by approving a $1.1 trillion budget deal known as the Cromnibus bill. The 1603 pages of text are filled with giveaways to the rich as well as provisions designed to dismantle Wall Street regulations put into law created in 2008. After little public debate, H.R. 83 passed 219 to 206 at 9:37 p.m. Thursday night with Republicans and Democrats voting in favor of the resolution. Fifty seven (57) Democrats voted for the measure and 67 Republicans voted against the legislation (GovTrack.us, 2014). Ten representatives did not vote.
If passed in the Senate and signed by President Obama, the House approved measure would fund most of the government through September. The Department of Homeland Security received funding through Feb. 27, 2015, assuring everyone that a future fight regarding immigration will happen during the early sessions of the next Congress. The Senate is expected to debate and vote early next week. The Senate stalled voting, but the legislation is expected to pass despite Senate procedural hurdles put up by some Democrats.
The end result of this legislation? The middle class will become responsible for any banks’ gambling losses. Yes, we’d be responsible for bailing out the banks again during the next economic crisis they create.
References
Chappell, B. (2014, December 11). ‘Cromnibus’ Spending Bill Passes, Just Hours Before Deadline. NPR. Retrieved December 12, 2014, from http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/12/11/370132039/house-poised-to-vote-on-controversial-cromnibus-spending-bill
GovTrack.us (2014). H.R. 83: Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2014, from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/113-2014/h563
Marcos, C. & Bolton, A. (2014, December 12). Senators seek deal to end year. Retrieved December 12, 2014, from http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/226990-house-passes-second-bill-to-avert-shutdown
Rasmussen. (2104, November 25). Congressional Performance: 8% Rate Congress Good or Excellent. Retrieved December 11, 2014, from http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/congressional_performance
Rasmussen. (2014, September 3). Voters Think Congress Cheats to Get Reelected. Retrieved December 11, 2014, from http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/archive/mood_of_america_archive/congressional_performance/voters_think_congress_cheats_to_get_reelected
Sherman, J. & Bresnahan, J. (2014, December 12). The president, the panic, and the cromnibus. Politico. Retrieved December 12, 2014, from http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/barack-obama-cromnibus-113543.html
Rules Committee. (2014, December 9). Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2014, from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CPRT-113HPRT91668/pdf/CPRT-113HPRT91668.pdf