Do As We Say, Not As We Do

(CBS)  When the leaders of the big three automakers flew to Washington in their private planes last year to ask for a federal bailout, Congress was not amused.

Lines of Capitol lawmakers heading for the microphones to denounce the auto executives got longer than the lines at airport metal detectors.

Even the automakers, who are hardly the role models when it comes to making swift decisions, quickly figured out they had stepped in it. They sold the planes.

What did Congress figure out form all that? Apparently, that taxpayers needed to buy more planes to haul THEM around.

This is one of those stories where about here we have to insert the words "I'm not kidding," but the House has approved spending a half-billion dollars to enlarge the fleet of Air Force planes that hauls members of Congress and officials of the federal government around.

Some of this is no doubt justified. The Air Force wants two planes to replace planes that are wearing out, and it wants to buy two aircraft that it is currently leasing.

But the House wants to buy four more planes that the Pentagon says it doesn't need or even want. It's Congress that wants them to meet its own growing travel needs.

The Wall Street Journal reports that House members spent 3,000 days overseas at taxpayer expense last year - that's nearly four times as many days they spent overseas 10 years ago - at a cost of $13 million, which is a ten-fold increase since 1995.

Nothing much surprises me any more, but when I read this stuff, I always wonder: Do they think no one will find out, or is it they just don't care?

[mr.tarver]

Let Them Buy That More Work For People Like Me.

[Resin-Smoker]

Just curious if any of our elected officials were in the air anytime just before or during the events of Sept 11th?

[IdahoCowgirl]

Oh, I forgot to mention the bogus global warming hoax--
what about their 'carbon footprint'?
If they TRULY believe their own lies, then why are they buying more jet planes that use that awful 'jet fuel'.
MAYBE because their is no global warming. They save their crap for us little people. We can change our lives, while they still get drove around in a cadillac and flown on private jets.
Ok, I am done venting.

Thanks CBS for finally doing some real journalism.

[IdahoCowgirl]

None of the politicians truly care. They aren't putting themselves on this healthcare plan they are trying to RAM down our throats, nor are they going to change their lifestyle as they ram the Cap and Trade/tax down our throats either.
Bunch of hypocrite s.o.b.s. I used to respect them, but now I am fully awake and watching all this lying, stealing of my hard earned money, corruption and I have lost trust and faith in our elected officials.
We need to fire congress now! They are stabbing us in the back and sneaking this amendment or that bill in the shadows or under the radar. They keep spending as if there is no credit limit....meanwhile the rest of us are watching our savings dwindle, our spouses loose their job, our unemployment run out, and I could go on and on. As we sink, they want to keep printing money, spend, travel, buy new jets, and then hey....here come the TAXES--as if we weren't taxed enough. I am so tired of all this corruption and taxes.

[pcherring]

In HR3200, what does the provision Public Health Workforce Corps provide in the way of health care? It looks like another government way to increase the federal payroll and insure that fraud remains a part of every government run sector.

[sjc_1]

Page 897

15 ??SEC. 340L. PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE CORPS.
16 ??(a) ESTABLISHMENT.?There is established, within
17 the Service, the Public Health Workforce Corps (in this
18 subpart referred to as the ?Corps?), for the purpose of en19
suring an adequate supply of public health professionals
20 throughout the Nation. The Corps shall consist of?
21 ??(1) such officers of the Regular and Reserve
22 Corps of the Service as the Secretary may designate;
23 and
24 ??(2) such civilian employees of the United
25 States as the Secretary may appoint.

(It sounds to me like they want to make sure that there are enough health care professionals. I would imagine the Wrong Wing Nuts will try and twist it into something sinister.)

[tenntom18]

I always wonder: Do they think no one will find out, or is it they just don't care?"

Much of the problem stems from the "public has a short memory" attitude of politicians, aided by a media that fails to follow up and keep issues before the public until they are resolved. CBS should have a "Top Ten Issues" file that is kept on the front burner until it is resolved.

PS: Years ago, CBS ran crawlers on the Evening News noting the national debt that particular day. This only lasted a few weeks then stopped. Why won't you consider doing this again and KEEP DOING IT???

[cameraphone]

Ask not what the government can do to support the people, but what the people can do to support the government in luxury.

[debb17055]

Did anyone consider the cost savings of having much more efficient planes? I heard the new planes will save a huge amount on fuel costs alone, not to mention the benefit to the environment. Just sayin...

[RSHouck3]

Why does foreign travel by our representatives get blasted? Flying in private jets - OK. But our government can and occasionally does learn from how other countries have solved the same problems we face. And we have seen what it means to go without any friends. Let's make some. Even if we disagree with our friends. So I say fight waste, but not every flight to Europe is a junket.

[siriusproductions]

Maybe they can buy the aircraft sold off by the automakers.