Opinion

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On spending, Congress apparently has no priorities

By: David Freddoso
Commentary Staff Writer
11/05/09 3:37 PM PST

Thanks to a 36-to-62 vote in the Senate today, the National Science Foundation will continue funding studies like this one, which concluded that congressmen can boost their approval ratings by holding Internet town halls. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., proposed an amendment banning the use of NSF funds for such political science studies. Nine Republicans voted to preserve the funding. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., was among those voting against it.

You can see how your senators voted on Coburn's amendment here.

The vote highlights the total lack of prioritization in federal spending. One would expect National Science Foundation money to go towardy...well, science. If this kind of flimsy study (it examined town halls with only 15 to 25 participants each) on a topic of questionable value isn't worthy of a cut, is there any place in the budget for Congress to begin cutting?

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Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

Mad Monica

Nov 5, 2009

Now now, you know what the real priority of politicians is, don't you? Keeping their cushy jobs! Come now... after all. If they lose these fancy jobs, they'll have to sign on to the healthcare bill they're planning to pass and even THEY know it's a bad deal!

ggordon

Nov 6, 2009

term limits for all.

flacracker

Nov 6, 2009

Right on, ggordon. It's well overdue to eliminate the professional politician in Washington, D.C. For the most part they no longer represent "We the People." They represent "We for Me."

Shanghaied

Nov 6, 2009

DC priority # 1. Destroy the middle class.
You do that by bankrupting them. Runaway
inflation is on it's way. Get used to being a Prole if this continues even a little longer without a drastic turnaround.

markit8dude

Nov 6, 2009

I worked in Antarctica during the 2003-2004, 2004-2005 Austral Summers, respectively.

The NSF ok'd people who filed for unemployment after leaving the ice in February, March of '04 and '05. Most of these folks worked seasonal positions in the U.S. for the Parks Service, construction trade, etc.,

So, these same granola-type, left minded people, who complained of big Government, Bush, the war etc., had non problem collecting the highest rate of unemployment benefits for months, while on vacation until May-June, where most of their stateside jobs asked them to return to work.

markit8dude

Nov 6, 2009

Lastly, these same individuals are hypocrites, naive to the extreme.

These same individuals didn't/ don't realize Raytheon Polar Services Corporation (a partner of the NSF), besides being a 'Science Research company' is a BIG player in weapons research and contributor to 'the war' they loathe.

Ignorance is truly bliss..

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On spending, Congress apparently has no priorities

By: David Freddoso
Commentary Staff Writer
11/05/09 3:37 PM PST