Payday loans for a lobbyist’s copy
But does he have a copy of the stimulus bill?
Payday loans to doughnuts, that stimulus bill sure made it through Congress fast, eh? According to Paul Bedard’s recent U.S. News and World Report’s “Washington Whispers” column, developments have been quite shocking.
How shocking? Well, get this. Capitol Hill is up in arms – not because they didn’t have time to read the bill, but because they didn’t all receive copies to review in the first place! Somebody has copies, however. Lobbyists do.
Now, Cash Advance Mojo has voiced his opinion about lobbying before (he believes in it), but there are limits. Lobbyists should not control the game completely, but they should be allowed to have their at-bats. The press quickly caught wind of what was happening and things on the Hill have gone crazy.
There also appeared to be “several different versions” of the bill floating around. What’s an old version, or a new version? These are the kind of things Americans must insist that their elected officials know. But it appears they didn’t have the chance.
Why is this being ramrodded through so quickly? Perhaps an agenda is being served, one that wouldn’t have survived the proper time and care of an honest inspection? Whatever the case, $789 billion is a lot of money to spend without a plan. What’s on the minds of most Americans is how the bill will help “create and save” 3.5 million jobs. President Obama and Congress haven’t made that clear yet.
Act now! Don’t think – act now!
Dan Decker of the Weekly Point blog puts it plainly: “The whole idea behind our government is that drastic plans of actions need to be carefully scrutinized and not undertaken in a fear driven frenzy.” Much the same way, no payday loans operation worth their salt will try to rush you. Get the facts, think about your situation, then act. If consumers should do that for pay day loan amounts ranging from $300 to $1,500, our government should definitely do it for $789 billion…
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- We Have a Deal: Stimulus Plan Carries $789 Billion Pricetag (abcnews.go.com)>
Some lobbying has a very utilitarian purpose, in that it allows members of the legislature (state and national) to hear about issues that affect their constituents. However, that in no way excuses some of the flagrant abuses of the lobby system by some corporations. That said, I find it completely reprehensible that lobbyists have their hands on the spending bill for OUR money rather than our legislators. I was optimistic about Obama taking office, but the more I see, the less I’m starting to believe. I’m starting to think that no, we can’t, and they aren’t ever going to let us, despite the fact that they work for us!
Lobbyists can certainly have a definite impact on how the government regulates. I too have nothing against them, but I must also agree… there are limits and boundaries. Government officials who are trying to come to a decisive conclusion should focus on the pros and cons of the matter without the distraction from lobbyists. Anyway, I’m glad they passed the stimulus package. Of course it isn’t quite the amount I expected, but it’s still a great number; enough to get the economic wheels rolling at least.