There are plenty of reasons we’re glad we aren’t members of Congress. Tops among them? Having to argue, with a straight face, about who’s misspending money that doesn’t exist. This year, four different bills have each proposed spending $6 billion that’s expected to be collected from oil companies. The money would result from a fee assessed to compensate for oil and gas royalties that went uncollected in the late 1990s. But a recent court decision may mean the $6 billion never sees the light. Meanwhile, we get this from House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio): “This example of cooking the books has to set a record. Democrats tried to spend $24 billion when they had $6 billion, and now they don’t even have that, according to the court.” And from a spokesperson for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): “It’s hypocritical for the Republicans to criticize us.” Honestly, it’s a wonder this country ever gets anything done.
