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December 03, 2008
Priorities
Senator Jim DeMint, August 28, 2008:
Americans are sick and tired of wasteful government spending. While they struggle to meet rising energy costs and still putting food on the table, their government appears to give little thought to what runaway spending today means for outlook of tomorrow. They, as well as their posterity, deserve better.Senator Jim DeMint, November 10, 2008:
Changes were still taking place even as the opening approached. Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, balked at the budget because he said the center's exhibits ignored the nation's religious heritage.Only in Washington. I guess some wasteful spending is better than others.To avoid further delays, Senate Rules Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and top Republican Robert Bennett of Utah agreed in principle to several changes, including engraving "In God We Trust" in stone in a prominent place. The cost: an additional $150,000.
Which party used to be known for its fiscal conservatism again?
Update - I am aware that Jim DeMint is a fine senator and a good conservative and that he did not specifically request the money. However, he did threaten to delay the opening unless changes were made to the exhibits, presumably knowing that such changes would add to the already-ridiculous cost of the project.
I'm glad he doesn't ask for earmarks, but it's still disappointing to see fiscal conservatives take action that causes my money to be spent, regardless of how noble the cause. I like how adamthemad puts it in the comments at ace's site:
$150k isn't even a line item in the budget for sure, but that's no excuse for being wasteful. A smaller government doesn't spontaneously happen and making excuses for stupid spending will only ensure it doesn't. Everybody's got their pet project, everybody can find something they find worthy of largess.Part of the reason voters have turned against the GOP is that we haven't practiced what we've preached. Sure, no earmark was requested, but that does not change the fact that DeMint's demands have and will result in the government spending our money.
Posted by slublog at December 3, 2008 08:47 AM
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Comments
Oh, darn. I am so disappointed, bec. I wouldn't expect this of him.
Posted by: Kath at December 3, 2008 12:32 PM
But I read in another story that the $150,000 was only for fixing the mistake of calling "E Pluribus Unum" our national motto, which was engraved in marble. The other changes have not been planned or estimated yet and will be paid for with offsets once they are planned. Nice try Slublog, Jim DeMint is still the most fiscally conservative Senator we've got. You can blame him for pointing out a really stupid mistake, but personally, I'm glad we have a Senator who still has his eyes open to the rampant liberalism that is taking over our country. Not surprising that Dianne Feinstein, Miss $294 million in earmarks last year would try to make it look like Mr. DeMint was asking for wasteful spending. Pitiful.
Posted by: John at December 3, 2008 01:24 PM
Jim DeMint made a big deal over the fact that the visitors center did not adequately portray our nation's religious heritage which forced expensive changes to be made.
I'm glad he doesn't ask for earmarks, but it's still disappointing to see fiscal conservatives take action that causes my money to be spent, regardless of how noble the cause. Either we're for smaller government and less spending entirely, or we're not.
Posted by: Slublog at December 3, 2008 01:50 PM
It's time to step on the Washington's Oxygen Hose. McCain was right about one thing: freeze EVERYTHING. Evaluate in two years.
Posted by: East Bay Jim at December 3, 2008 04:25 PM