Congressman Jack Kingston (Republican-GA) believes it to be true. He believes that Democrats don't care about his family or any Congressional member because of some new House rules being imposed by incoming House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer.
"Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families -- that's what this says."
What could Democrats do that warrants this accusation you ask? Well it seems that new Majority Whip Steny Hoyer wants Congress to have a FIVE DAY WORK WEEK!!!! I thought it was unbelievable too when I read it. I mean, doesn't everyone deserve a job that starts on Tuesday night and ends Thursday afternoon??? Roy Blunt who used to be the Majority whip before the Republicans took their thumping from last month's elections was a much better boss when it came to time concerns.
Obviously Steny Hoyer isn't aware that the obligation of a Congress(wo)man is to spending every waking moment trying to fundraise for the next election to hold onto power. Conducting the people's business you say? Meh! You damn idealists. Now those poor 435 souls will have to work hours like the rest of us, sort of at least.
Even Fox News network host John Gibson took issue with the (lack of) work ethic of Congressman Kingston. The press inside the beltway felt differently, as seen during Steny Hoyer's press conference the other day :
"I have bad news for you," Hoyer told reporters. "Those trips you had planned in January, forget 'em. We will be working almost every day in January, starting with the 4th."
The reporters groaned. "I know, it's awful, isn't it?" Hoyer empathized.
Starting the year on the 4th of January?!?!?! The first two weeks of the month are meant for vacations, not to deal with the wintry D.C. weather. Instead of laying on a beach somewhere off to the south, Republicans will have to endure the Democrats legislative agenda. The first 100 hours will be especially brutal.
Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."
Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.
Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds _ "I hope with a veto-proof majority," she added in an Associated Press interview Thursday.
Speaker Pelosi obviously hates the families of lobbyists, though she continues on:
All the days after that: "Pay as you go," meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority.
To do that, she said, Bush-era tax cuts would have to be rolled back for those above "a certain level." She mentioned annual incomes of $250,000 or $300,000 a year and higher, and said tax rates for those individuals might revert to those of the Clinton era. Details will have to be worked out, she emphasized.
"We believe in the marketplace," Pelosi said of Democrats, then drew a contrast with Republicans. "They have only rewarded wealth, not work."
"We must share the benefits of our wealth" beyond the privileged few, she added.
Are you as shocked as I am? Our country is certainly going down the tubes now. Rewarding wealth over work has been the American way forever....at least for me, I was four months old when Ronald Reagan took over.
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