Daniel P. Mulhollan, the Director of the Congressional Research Service says the CRS “will no longer respond to requests from members of Congress on the size, number or background of [budget] earmarks.” Lets stop here and review. The Congressional Research Service is refusing to respond to requests by members of Congress for their service.
John Fund of the Wall Street Journal details the failed attempts of Sen. DeMint to find out who is behind the earmarks in the 2007 budget and exactly what they are for. Imagine that? Does this behavior sound like the kind of open government Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid were talking about when they were in the minority? Can we expect to hear Harry and Nancy chastising Mulhollan on the TV shows for not doing what is right? Oh, how about the left-wing blogs who supposedly despise earmarks? Will we hear from them?  Don’t hold your breath for either.
Take it into your own hands and you know, write your elected representatives and demand that the CRS responds to any and all requests by members of congress regarding all aspects of appropriations bills.
Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-Va.) staffer, Philip Thompson, was arrested for violating D.C. gun laws by taking a pistol to the Russell Senate office building. He was charged with carrying it without a permit, and possession of an unregistered gun. Webb denies giving Thompson the gun, which is irrelevant in this case. The only relevant thing is was the law followed? In his explanation, Webb also admits to another potential violation of gun laws, in Louisiana. That is, unless Philip Thompson and/or Webb have a permit to carry in the state of Louisiana, either he or Webb violated that state’s laws as well.
I think this is one of those very unfortunate situations where, completely inadvertently, he took the weapon into the Senate yesterday,†Webb added. The senator noted that he was in New Orleans from Friday until Monday. He speculated that the incident happened because three of his cars were moved because of the trip.
If 50-state armed security is what the Senator wishes, there are security firms that can provide it, legally. Otherwise, supporting the second amendment by violating state ‘gun control’ laws is not a privilege granted to lawmakers and their entourage. It’s right up there with alleging to support the troops while planning for defeat.
Belly up to the counter. Politics are on the menu and Ross is on the grill.