If you need to be reminded of just how arrogant and destructive this Congress has been an editorial from The Wall Street Journal (9/20/2010, p. 11) should refresh our memories. As you may recall, the Obamacare
bill contained many horrific provisions. However, one particularly insane diktat towered above the others for inexplicable lunacy. It required that any business purchasing over $600 from any vendor annually would have to notify the IRS of this by filing a Form 1099.
As The Journal noted, “Business groups, especially small business, had made the vote a priority because of the huge compliance costs this burden will impose.” One article I read noted the incredible hassle of just finding vendor tax identification numbers. A private attorney’s IRS help blog observed that “the requirement itself is going to be an administrative nightmare for businesses, especially small business owners who do not have the capacity to keep accurate records of their expenses in such minute detail.” But no matter.
Senator Johann (R-NE) offered an amendment to repeal this provision. Fellow Nebraskan, Ben Nelson, offered a compromise raising the amount that triggered the provision to $5,000 – a typically ridiculous proposal from the ruling class meant to appease the peasants. Johann could only muster 46 votes. Nelson obtained 56 for faux repeal but couldn’t the 60 that were needed in the Senate.
The vote was ominous. It was a harbinger of the fight to come in the next and the next Congresses when Republicans try to repeal Obamacare. As the Journal perceptively observed, “Liberal Democrats will do everything in their power to preserve every part of ObamaCare, so reformers are going to need every Senate seat they can get if they want to do more than posture.”
With that failed effort capping off nineteen months of ignominy I can only think that this Congress deserves a farewell like the one delivered by Oliver Cromwell when he dissolved the Long Parliament in 1653. Cromwell told the assembled body:
It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.
Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter’d your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?
Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil’d this sacred place, and turn’d the Lord’s temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.
In the name of God, go!
No comments:
Post a Comment