Wednesday, December 19, 2007

500 billion and 4 what

Yo, this may be my last semi-serious post until ex post facto Christmas. I mean, I will post one Friday before my birthday on the 22 of December but that will be merely shameless self-promotion. Been spending the most of the past two days trying to disect the 3500 plus pages of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill approved by the House yesterday. They tell me that it weighs 35 lbs but I wouldn't know since I have been reading it online.

I am not counting all of the pork, or earmarks inserted into the bill, just looking for the outrageous stuff they use my tax dollars for. But I have been told hat there are about 9,000 with about 115 worth about $117 million. This tells met that the majority of the members of both Houses aint even read the bill to know what they spending my loot on. And frankly that pisses me off.

I did see that Senator Hillary Clinton took care of some of her folks. One of the recipients was the National Center on Education and the Economy for 2.6 million bills, which is to be awarded within 30 days of enactment of the measure. These folks have contributed heavily to her campaign. The organization is run by Marc Tucker, a long time Clinton supporter. That is a lot of lot for a $4,600.00 campaign donation, which happens to be the maximum. The bill also included a 3.5 percent raise for members of both Houses (excuse me white-collar federal employees).

Other items I saw included $201,000 used to “clean and green” vacant land in Philadelphia to one million for “Bush Creek Beautification.” It also allocates 600,000 for Christopher Columbus fellowship foundation what ever that is. But most of the Earmarks are what they call ‘Air-Dropped’ Earmarks' - about 300 of them, meaning that they were added at the last minute s if they were dropped out of thin air.

I'm not quite finish yet, I mean its some real boring shit to read and I don't have government-speak down tight yet. But best believe if your folk find something else, i'm gone let yawl know.

27 comments:

MsFreshBananaPuddin said...

Since I’m still a little fresh to your blog, what is it that you do, exactly?

And not being serious every once in a while never hurt anybody…

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

im an infectious disease spcialist. Most of my work is in african, but all in prisions. I teach at a medical school, and i am told i am one of the top 4 or 5 in the world in my field, y

Anonymous said...

u can see some of my scientific articles on the side but its BORING

Jameil said...

sigh. ridiculous.

SoCal Muchacha said...

Hey, it's your blog, so go forth with the shameless self-promotion--gotta love it. And Happy Early Birthday, just in case I miss it! :)

As for politicians not reading the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, since too many of them didn't even bother reading ANYTHING related to the Patriot Act (even the actual Act itself!), I'm not too surprised. And anyone who has paid ANY attention (heck, even if you've barely paid attention at all!) has to realize the dire consequences of the Patriot Act, and those who failed to investigate it fully prior to authorizing it. Can only imagine the consequences of this latest bill.

And just how crazy are YOU for reading that HUGE bill online, Torrance?!?! My eyes bug out just reading a few articles online, so I can only imagine trying to read what you are. Here's my advice: Rub your hands together, get them nice and warm, then place them over your eyes...they need the break! :)

Old School Fridays said...

I can't believe you actually read it. The congress, the senate, the President, and his cabin members probably don't read the whole thing.

I guess it would be best to know where my money is being spent, but I just started Paradise by Toni Morrison and I'm not in the mood to add a political bible in the mix. So let me know how my money is being spent, and what new state is getting a multi-million dollar bridge to a place where on hundreds may travel.

How old will you be, I think I remember reading your age somewhere around PIMP C's death, or maybe I just assumed you were somewhere near me because of the taste in music. As you can see I like to talk, so anyway, How old will you be, and Happy Early Birthday.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

anon was me

jamiel - ain it though

socal - i dont want to give a false louction, i only got through about 900 pages and scaned the rest

ms grapevine - 45 but my students say i look in my early 30s but they be flirting in the fron trow so i take it with a grain of thought

Babz Rawls Ivy said...

I for one commend you on tackling this! If more folks did then so much of this crap would NOT get pushed through. Talk about weapons of mass distraction. As a former elected public official I know "the game" and for politicians-- ignorance is bliss. I am not saying what they are doing is worng... it is within all the legal limits of the law. However, if more folks were politically engaged and not just with the public protests, but doing what your doing---reading and trying to understand where the money is going then we could make sure that money and other resources would be allocated to things that matter to the masses. For instance everyone says that they care about children and their well-being but our allocation of resources do not support that ...ie defunding of after-school programming all across the country. Ok, I am an ex-politician who publicly fell from political grace...but I digress.

I do hope you share your birthday plans. The marking of the passing of time is important, besides I am interested!

Mizrepresent said...

Love you break down T...always on it...i mean who would take the time out to read such a document but yourself. Oh yeah, and Happy Birthday wishes to you on Friday...i know you will enjoy!

John "JP" Pickens said...

Keep spittin' truth. Here is my question, lets say you read it, disprove of the bill, do we have any rights? Like, 117million is some coin. Do we have any rights to overturn it?

MsKayotic said...

While you're reading you're Omnibus bill, I was reading the Mitchell Report.

So you're infectious disease specialist. So am I. I went to school for it at least. No jobs down here. I'm tryin to make some moves but finding the right position is proving difficult.

Mes Deux Cents said...

Torrance,

The problem is not that there is pork; the problem is that Black people don't have lobbyists in Washington getting some of that pork.

T. S. Snowden said...

Hey! Okay please keep us in the loop on this Bill brother! I am so glad I finally made it back to one of my favorite spots! This is interesting stuff and is much easier to digest in your segments.

That being said Happy upcoming birthday! Here's to many more years of giving it to us "raw dawg"!
BTW TODAY is my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mp1 said...

Nice to see that my taxes are being increased for noble causes.(insert sarcasm here)
It's a shame that our Congress passes these bills without actually reading them. If we did that in our daily work lives, we'd be out of a job. Aint accountability great?

MsKayotic said...

What kind of research I do?

I went to school to study infectious diseases but there are no jobs in this area to do any kind of research. I didn't have a decent advisor in school to point me in the right direction.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

babz - how did u do it and what was your office u braver than me and no plans as of yet

miz - thanks hon

thic - nope, this is a republic and not a democracy

Kayos - read that last week, a shameful waste of tax loot and time

Mes Deux Cents - u are right, but i was biased, i say some loot for a Malcom X center and a Harlem math tutoring center but we do need lobbyist bad

femi - where have u beeen and happy nappy to u hon

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

mp1 (wretched) - what u sad was funny, dont know if u intended it to be but it was and more so a reflection on the said state of affairs we call american plitics

Anonymous said...

Man I can not believe you are actually going through this as in actually reading the bill. You are a better man than I am. I soon just grab all of the knowledge you drop via the blog, then I can say that I read it without ever having read it. LOL.

MARCUS LANGFORD

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

marcus - u a fool lol and we jus divide thw work in the blogosphere. but like told socal, i only went through about 800 to 900 pages and scanned the rest , too boring

Ladynay said...

Number 1, happy Early Birthday cuz a sista WILL forget! :-)

Number 2, you receive props from me for even attempting to do more than skim that 35lb in paper text. Whether online or not!

Number 3, thanks for keeping me in the know about this stuff. Parts of me dwindle due to lack of knowledge.

Xave said...

Your blog is fascinating. I pride myself on being very politically informed. And your background in the sciences is all the more reason to check in on you. I read most of the (Kenneth) Starr Report and the entire 911 Report but I dont think I could (or would want to) digest something as intentionally obfuscated as a budget bill. Hats off to you!

Happy early birthday and thanks for stopping by.

Peace,

Ali's Zay (LoversA.blogspot.com)

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

lady - thank u and u welcome

Ali - like i said, 8 or 9 hundred pages turned me out and i had to scan the rest. Thanks and I will be back by your spot.

Don said...

3,500 + pages...

I always wondered what type of brain it took to earn a PHD.

Now I know.

Didi Roby said...

Wow, I learn something new everyday.

oakleyses said...

louis vuitton outlet online, michael kors outlet online, prada outlet, longchamp outlet, coach outlet, louis vuitton, jordan shoes, oakley sunglasses, polo ralph lauren outlet, oakley vault, michael kors outlet online, michael kors outlet store, ray ban sunglasses, christian louboutin shoes, kate spade handbags, coach outlet store online, tiffany and co jewelry, nike free, polo ralph lauren, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton handbags, prada handbags, nike shoes, longchamp outlet online, coach outlet, tiffany jewelry, chanel handbags, coach purses, kate spade outlet online, gucci handbags, red bottom shoes, christian louboutin outlet, true religion, michael kors outlet online, nike air max, ray ban outlet, nike air max, true religion outlet, longchamp handbags, louis vuitton outlet, christian louboutin, tory burch outlet, burberry outlet online, cheap oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet online, burberry outlet online, louis vuitton outlet

oakleyses said...

instyler ionic styler, canada goose outlet, beats headphones, canada goose outlet, abercrombie and fitch, p90x workout, vans outlet, birkin bag, mac cosmetics, reebok shoes, wedding dresses, ugg outlet, soccer jerseys, soccer shoes, chi flat iron, longchamp, insanity workout, jimmy choo shoes, babyliss pro, roshe run, valentino shoes, nike huarache, nfl jerseys, north face jackets, herve leger, giuseppe zanotti, mont blanc pens, new balance outlet, north face outlet, celine handbags, canada goose outlet, hollister, rolex watches, mcm handbags, ugg soldes, ugg boots, marc jacobs outlet, uggs outlet, nike trainers, bottega veneta, canada goose, asics shoes, ugg, lululemon outlet, ferragamo shoes, ghd, uggs on sale

oakleyses said...

canada goose uk, coach outlet, hollister, swarovski jewelry, canada goose, canada goose pas cher, links of london uk, pandora charms, montre femme, karen millen, converse, moncler, moncler, moncler outlet, louis vuitton canada, uggs canada, ray ban, moncler, vans, louboutin, hollister canada, swarovski uk, timberland shoes, toms outlet, thomas sabo uk, juicy couture outlet, baseball bats, ugg, wedding dress, converse shoes, juicy couture outlet, pandora jewelry, canada goose, pandora uk, hollister clothing, supra shoes, ralph lauren, replica watches, moncler, nike air max, iphone 6 case, gucci, air max, oakley, parajumpers outlet, moncler, lancel, moncler