No matter the logic, the DC establishment gets members to vote themselves money in a circle. They vote for these things and get donations back, so in effect, they vote themselves money.
This has been going on for decades, e.g. PP, Ex-Im Bank. DC politically connected persons have known about it and kept it in a box in pieces as if their votes and the donations received were not connected.
Now it’s getting out to the public but is still at a noise level distraction. If it gets more volume, people won’t know what to do about it except get angry. Electing new members is not a solution as they are brought to heel to the power politics of DC.
An independent solution to this corruption is taking place by the process named in my tagline. DC will never fix itself.
All very true; someone pointed out that Paul Ryan as Speaker really differed very little from Pelosi. About the only Trump initiative he pushed for was the tax cut and part of that benefitted his wealthy and corporate contributors. He had no interest in getting rid of PBS/NPR subsidies when he had the majority and power to do so. He had to reach across the aisle and into us taxpayers’ pockets.