On Auditing Capitol Hill

Whether about confirmations or a certain issue, Congressional hearings provide a chance for our lawmakers to exhibit the proverbial double standard. As committee members grill those in front of them with statements as “Just answer the question” or “I want to know”, these are the same people who forget the way they too do the dance-around-the-question 2-step when someone asks them specific questions, .

Since I’ve had enough, and in the spirit of what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, let’s set all 535 members on Capitol Hill on the witness stand … the witness stand to the public. I want the IRS to audit each of them … now! Pelosi, Boehner, Reid, McConnell, and all their lieutenants … You first … then the members of the Ethics Committee, and continuing all the way down to the newly-elected representative.

Tax issues got the best of Tom Daschle and Nancy Gillefer; meanwhile, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner escaped the hot seat – well, at least temporarily. Why should it stop with nominees? Should we simply trust them because they have been selected to be our public servants?

Since gifts, perks, honorariums, expenses, travel, and other dollars pass through these people all the time, they have ample opportunity for both mistakes and intentional deceptions. So why not the audit? Those with troubles will pay the IRS with penalties AND resign their position.

Auditing the high-and-mighty in the hallowed halls will help all of us identify those with the highest integrity. We deserve it! Oops I forgot … even with the public’s low approval rating of Congress, the majority of voters proclaim that those representing them are fine, thus it’s everyone else.

On the New Cabinet & Advisors

A new administration means new people on the inside.

On Hillary Clinton (State): No problem; but I wouldn’t have nominated her because she also brings a gorilla into the room that easily raises questions.

On Timothy Geithner (Treas): So we now have a Secretary of the Treasury who had a tax issue leading a department that includes the IRS.  First of all, it seems many Americans would support his “don’t pay” tax plan … (Thank you Jay Leno) … and the ultimate trump on GOP tax cuts.

Although he paid his obligation (and hopefully with interest), I have one question: Where was the IRS during this? Gosh knows they’ve inconvenienced me on more than one occasion over issues stemming from they (the IRS) losing forms that I sent – and on one occasion, one that I personally delivered.

On Ray LaHood (Trans): Here’s a guy with 2 reputations: a bipartisan and a pork spender. Both are good: bipartisan solutions are necessary and he’s no longer in Congress.

On Tom Daschle (Health & HS): Yes, he has passion for health care reform, but who and the heck would want to tackle that mess! If a proposal comes forth in the first 100 days, that’s a bad sign because of the enormous nature of the problem.

On Arne Duncan (Educ): So the Supt of Chicago is reform minded. What does that mean? Doing something different in an outdated system with outdated standards or gutting the system to take it into the 21st century? Ooops … I forgot, the public won’t allow the latter.

On Bob Gates (Def): A good choice, yet my hunch is he is a transition choice; thus serving 2 years then stepping aside.

On Janet Napolitano (HL Sec): Although a former border state governor, she not tough enough for me.

On TBA: (Commerce): I want a business person, not a politician getting a political favor.

On Advisors: Using George Mitchell as special envoy to the Middle East is a great move. I hope President Obama doesn’t forget to use some distinguished, respectable, knowledgeable Republicans. What can Colin Powell, Chuck Hagel, James Baker, and others do? Thanks but no thanks, no Donald Rumsfeld.