[supercat]

If I couild wave a magic wand and bring about any single change in Washington, DC, it would be to put an end to being able to attach bills to other bills as a method of forcing passage of unpopular measures.

A related problem is the committee process. While the necessity of getting bills through committee before they reach the floor has at times been a good thing, it gives more power to people on those committees to load legislation with garbage. While the Constitution does not allow the President to alter a bill and then sign the altered version into law without the consent of Congress, I wouldn't see any Constitutional problem with Congressional rules allowing the president to request that his altered version of a bill he vetoes be put for a straight up/down vote in the House and Senate.

[jwparkerjr]

Didn’t one of the presidents get at this problem by refusing to spend the money that had been appropriated. I seem to remember a president who impounded funds. Maybe someone will recall the details.

If we don’t find a way to get a handle on government growth and spending it’s going to spell the end of our run as one of the most prosperous nations in history.