Congress

Extremely depressing column by Robert Novak:

In a closed-door House Republican conference before the April 23 vote, Minority Whip Roy Blunt opposed the bill on procedural grounds because there was no opportunity for amendments. All Republican leaders voted against the [Medicaid] bill, but their vaunted whip operation was dormant. With a rare opportunity to go on record against entitlements, House Republicans voted 128 to 62 for spending. Democrats were unanimous as the bill passed 349 to 62.

House Republicans had another chance last Thursday to demonstrate interest in restoring anti-waste credentials. Republican Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona offered a proposal to keep the individual limit of direct farm payments at the current $40,000 instead of raising it to $60,000, as the House did earlier. The state of the GOP is indicated by the fact that the 104 to 86 vote by Republicans was seen as progress, while Flake's proposal failed. Voting against it were Blunt, Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam and Republican campaign chairman Tom Cole.

This dovetails nicely with my long-hold belief that pretty much all of the Democrats in Congress are useless and about half to two-thirds of the Republicans.