at least it's bipartisan money-wasting

[madbaker]

Senators attached a provision repealing a 39-cent excise tax on wooden arrows designed for children to an historic $700 billion financial-markets rescue that passed tonight by a vote of 74-25. The provision, originally proposed by Oregon senators Ron Wyden (D) and Gordon Smith (R), will save manufacturers such as Rose City Archery in Myrtle Point, Oregon, about $200,000 a year. It's one of dozens of tax breaks benefiting Hollywood producers, stock-car racetrack owners and Virgin Islands rum- makers included in the broader legislation.

Comments

Small Government, Darn You!

[helblonde.livejournal.com]

Disgusted sums up how I feel about this bill, too. It makes my eyes bleed.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

All bills are like this, with little riders and earmarks that have nothing to do with the bill. I wish they'd confine bills to what they say they are. It's dishonest.

[tsgeisel.livejournal.com]

I'm tempted to contact my local rep and have him vote no on the bill when it comes up, or at least fight to have the riders removed in the compromise bill.

In fact, I think I'll do that just now.

[ermine-rat.livejournal.com]

An extra 100 billion dollars to buy a dozen votes.
The only professions where this kind of dickering is acceptable is amongst Lawyers and Car Salesmen, and neither should be allowed to hold a job in Coingress ...ooo look at my Freudian slip

[serendipity17.livejournal.com]

FWIW, Myrtle Point is a teeny town on the Oregon coast. I've been there twice, as the "going to town" part of family reunions.

[tafelspitz.livejournal.com]

Gee. A tax break specifically for fletchers. Who would have thought it. Although the Oregon coast is where the best arrow wood grows...Port Orford Cedar.

[albionwood.livejournal.com]

You are disgusted because they are reducing taxes?
It sounds like this was kind of a weird special-interest tax in the first place. Why is it bad to repeal it?

IIRC, this is why the Blue Dog Democrats voted against the bailout bill - they wanted "offsets" (spending cuts or tax increases) against the $700B. Instead, they are going to get a bill with even more tax breaks...

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that this is a tax break specifically crafted for them - it's not repealing a tax aimed at them.

Complicating the tax code for special interests in either direction, cut or hike, is bad public policy.

[naadhira.livejournal.com]

Ahhh... makes me so proud to live in Oregon... NOT!!!