The US Congress, Where Political Blackmail is Business as Usual

A federal highway trust fund will expire at the end of this month. Last week, the US Senate passed a transportation bill that would provide millions of long term jobs while rebuilding our ailing infrastructure and which will guarantee that the money in the highway trust fund is not lost. The House of Representatives has their own stalled version of the bill. The House wants to add riders; among them two that would open the Arctic Wildlife Preserve and the entire continental shelf to drilling for oil and a third rider that would fast track the Keystone XL Pipeline.

what eye thynk:  In any given circumstance, either party can be caught playing this blackmail game.  "Add my riders to your bill or I won't vote for it and you'll be sorry!"  They all sound like small, petulant children threatening to take their ball and go home if the rules aren't changed to satisfy them.

When you look at your congressman's record, are you sure he supported the health care law or did he really vote for it because they added his tax-cuts-for-pig-farmers-who-raise-only-speckled-pigs-in-dry-counties rider?  Yes, that is ludicrous, but it makes a point.  Remember last year when Tea Party leadership threatened to vote no on any attempt to raise the debt limit unless a rider was added forcing gay service men and women back into the closet?  Really, how was that, in any way, going to improve our debt situation?

Political blackmail is a waste of time and resources.  Without all the adding and subtracting one-upmanship maybe Congress could actually accomplish something.  Eliminate what has become essentially a pay for my vote mentality. 

If you think sober speckled pig farmers deserve a tax cut, then present it as a single issue bill; because, frankly, if your rider isn't strong enough to be passed on its own, then it shouldn't be passed.