Senate Rejects Earmark Ban on 39-to-56 Vote

By Sibyl West Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Democrats and Republicans debated dueling amendments to strip from the health-care law a requirement that businesses report to the IRS any purchase of $600 or more. Both versions were soundly defeated.   From todays headlines - Poor Richard: Obamas Federal Pay Freeze an empty gesture Senate rejects earmark ban 39-56 Senate advances food safety bill outlawing home-grown vegetables California counted more registered Republicans in 1988 than it does today even though the state population has since grown by about 10 million.

The Founders were keenly aware of the danger of a Congress divorced from the realities of the rest of the country. During the Constitutional Convention in 1787 Roger Sherman of Connecticut wrote Representatives ought to return home and mix with the people. By remaining at the seat of government they would acquire the habits of the place which might differ from those of their constituents."

Would congressional term limits work? They seem to in states that have tried them opening opportunities to people including women who might not otherwise have been able to challenge entrenched and well-funded incumbents. Opinion is clearly on the side of abbreviated terms." In September a Fox News poll found that 78 of voters favored term limits for Congress."

Cal Thomas Make Congress a Part-Time Job

Sibyl West is the editor in chief of Ramparts360.com who was named 2010 Blogger of the Year by Americans for Prosperity-Texas. She is a perennial student of Vedanta philosophy who lived for 25 years in the Far East.