TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Obama Must Stand Up To His Own Party On Budget

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 6, 2009

Unlike Rush Limbaugh, we don't want President Barack Obama to fail. If he does, then our country fails. We do, however, want Obama to do what he's been saying all along, and that's to change the way Washington, D.C., does business - and that includes changing the baloney that's going on with Democratic members of Congress.

In the newest federal budget bill, all kinds of earmarks are put in there from Republicans and Democrats. We don't care what party put them there, but we want the silly, superfluous budget items erased from this bill.

Obama was elected by promising to stop the nonsense that goes on in Washington. No more special favors, no more bridges to nowhere, no more allowing partisanship to run rampant. But we've yet to see Obama stand up to congressional Democrats on wasteful spending.

It's true that one person's pork project is another person's critically important project for his or her state. Some of these on the face look like wasteful spending when, in fact, they serve a real need. But it's clear that billions in this bill are nothing more than pork spent on projects that benefit few in particular states and no one nationally.

Why can't members of Congress - Democrats and Republicans - understand that this has to end? We're in no position to waste taxpayer money. Every cent must be spent on projects that put people to work, serve people who need it most, are sustainable and help our economy in the long run.

Obviously the president doesn't want to anger the same representatives he will need to pass future legislation, but he cannot let them break the bank just to keep them happy. He has to stand tall and tell members in his own party to knock it off. If it angers them, so be it. Let voters deal with those elected officials who want to waste money. People are ready to do what's necessary, but they need leadership they trust has their best interests at heart.

Republicans are every bit as guilty of wasteful, pork barrel spending, but with Obama now in power, he has to take the high road and be above this. He must stand up to his own party - now. Too much is at stake.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT