You probably weren’t aware, but Friday was a big day on Capitol Hill, even though Members rushed out of town on the eve of the April recess.  But the filing deadline for Member earmark requests was upon them, or so they thought.  Last year the Appropriations Committee extended the deadline (A Quiet Recess? 3/20/2008) because of an overload of requests, and this year didn’t disappoint.  On Friday evening, Anne Schroeder Mullins from Politico posted a blog titled “There are so many earmarks in the House that…”
 
Here is an excerpt:

“Who says Members are opposed to earmarks? We hear that the earmark computer in the Appropriations Committee - the earmark database member request system, to be exact -- broke down today. Again. This after it was revamped after last year's overwhelming earmarking.”
 

That’s right, there were so many earmark requests that the computer that stores all of the information broke down…AGAIN!  So the Appropriations Committee, for the second year in a row, extended the filing deadline.
 
Earmarks are a corrupting and abusive practice in Congress. You’d think that the ear markers would get the message, it’s not just the American people protesting the pork, it’s their office equipment now too!

Today, President Obama’s first tax hike took effect.  Yes, that’s right on April Fool’s day, but it’s no joke.

When President Obama first took office, he pushed through Congress, and signed a bill increasing taxes on tobacco.  This increase amounts to 62 cents per pack of cigarettes, and 40 cents per individual cigar. 

This came as part of the so-called State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), unfortunately, it is not nearly as strong a program as its title implies.  It is nothing more than the first step in the short march towards socialized healthcare. 

President Obama pledged that he wouldn’t raise taxes on Americans making less than $250,000/year, but this tax will fall most heavily on those making significantly less than that. 

Just exactly what are the President and Congressional Democrats trying to accomplish here?

In my opinion, the best and most articulate Member of Congress, present company included, is Paul Ryan (R-WI). He is the Ranking Member of the Budget Committee, and a guest blogger here at the Greeneyeshade. Here is a 4 minute clip of his very powerful closing argument in last Wednesday’s debate.  Right below the video, I have included a link to his Op-Ed in today's edition of the Wall Street Journal.