Posted on 01/26/2012 6:10:43 AM PST by IbJensen
Our national debt stands at $15.2 trillion, and is growing by roughly $6 billion per day. We have tens of trillions in unfunded liabilities for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Unfortunately, we have learned that Republicans lack the gumption to fight for transformational spending cuts and reforms of major entitlements. However, at the very least, one would expect them to oppose silly pork projects like Buffalo Soldiers!
Yesterday, the Republican-controlled House passed HR 1022, a bill that would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the history of Buffalo Soldiers in the establishment of national parks. The study will cost $400,000. The purpose of the study is to ascertain the feasibility of a plan to create a 200-mile trail between San Francisco and Yosemite National Park in commemoration of the Buffalo Soldiers. The federal government already owns roughly 1/3 of all American land. Do we need to afford them the opportunity to take over more land?
The bill was sponsored by Democrat Congresswoman Jackie Speier, yet Republican leaders agreed to bring it up under a suspension vote with limited debate. Even though a two-thirds super majority is required for passage, the bill passed easily with 338 votes. Only 70 Republicans opposed this inane endeavor. While this is small potatoes in the scheme our more existential problems, it is very instructive. If they can’t find the courage to oppose some silly bill that nobody cares about, how are they going to roll back major dependency programs that enjoy popular constituencies?
Moreover, if you take a look at page 34 of the GOP Pledge to America, they made the following observation regarding suspension votes during the Pelosi Congress:
The number of House legislative days devoted to action on noncontroversial and often insignificant “suspension” bills is up significantly in this Congress by comparison with the past several Congresses, wasting time and taxpayer resources. Of the bills considered under the suspension procedure – requiring 2/3 vote for passage – so far during this Congress, more than half were bills naming federal buildings, recognizing individuals or groups (like sports teams) for achievements, or supporting the designation of particular days, months, or weeks.
The Buffalo Soldiers undoubtedly served with courage in the United States Army, and deserve some sort of commemoration. But doesn’t this study qualify as “wasting time and taxpayer resources?”
Hypenated Americans who actually tack that ‘African’ in front of their nationality aren’t Americans. I don’t care if they fought the buffalo or not.
“Yesterday, the Republican-controlled House passed HR 1022, a bill that would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the history of Buffalo Soldiers in the establishment of national parks. The study will cost $400,000. “
This is what is commonly known as “writing an essay” or “doing a book report”.
It would cost nothing more than a few hundred dollars to get some guy to make plaques that can be placed at selected locations, and you can get some college students to write up some words to be printed on them for nothing more than some pizza money and acknowledgement so they can put it on a resume.
“fought the buffalo” good one. They were fighting the Indians making the West safe for White Settlers. The Indians called them Buffalo Soligers because their nappy hair look like the coat of a buffalo.
One must remember that any affirmative action race deserve everything that they demand when hands are extended to receive their due.
LOL
poor buffalo
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