July 7, 2009
The Wall Street Journal carried a front page story last week about plans by the state of Virginia to close a considerable number of rest stops. Governments always do this when budgets are supposedly tight. They end services that get the public’s attention so they can keep on taxing, borrowing and spending. This is a major reason why California is now handing out IOUs instead of paying its bills. Government is spending beyond our means.
Spending by members of Congress on overseas travel has increased. In 2008 alone, hundreds of lawmakers traveled overseas, costing us $13 million. Such travel has jumped nearly 70 percent since 2005 and 50 percent since Democrats took control of Congress.
In mid-June, Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye led a group of six senators and their spouses on a 4-day trip to the Paris Air Show. The government jet cost $5,700 an hour to operate. The InterContinental Hotel where they stayed advertises rooms from $460 a night.
Your and my tax dollars at work.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
