How Republicans Limit Waste

Republicans love to go on about how big librul government wastes the taxpayers’ money.  They say America should trust them to limit waste.  For once they have come up with a method that really does limit waste.  After all, taxpayer money cannot be wasted, after Republicans have stolen it.

On Nov. 5, 2009, at the behest of Rep. Michele Bachmann, thousands of tea party activists descended on the Capitol to vent their rage over the health care overhaul bill pending before Congress.

The assembled activists chanted, "Kill the bill! Kill the bill!" and waved signs opposing a government takeover of health care — but they may not have known that the same government was paying for the event.

According to House expense reports, Bachmann and three conservative GOP colleagues — Reps. Tom Price (Ga.), Steve King (Iowa) and Todd Akin (Mo.) — each paid $3,407.50 that day, a total of $13,630, to a sound and stage company called National Events, apparently for the sound system used at the rally.

The money came from the Members’ taxpayer-funded office accounts, despite House rules prohibiting the use of these funds for political activities. Bachmann’s office insists the expense was a proper use of official funds.

Bachmann billed the event as a "press conference," which can be funded from official accounts. But no questions were taken from the press and, unlike most press conferences, it opened with a prayer, the national anthem and a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Roll Call>

I admit, $13,630 is small change in the realm of government spending, but there are other things at issue here.  Republicans have a sense of entitlement, believing that they are above the rules that they demand others follow.  Republicans have no problem stealing taxpayer funds to suit their political ends.  When exposed, Republicans have no problem with lying to cover their tracks.