http://www.sundriesshack.com/2009/02/12/pray-your-members-of-congress-took-speed-reading-lessons/

There is no chance in the world that any member of Congress is going to be able to read the bill by morning unless they are a trained speed reader. Even then, they’re not going to know the full ramifications of what the bill contains. I’ll do some back of the envelope calculations to prove it.

Let’s start with two generous assumptions: that the bill remains at 1,434 pages, and it gets in the hands of your member of Congress at 8 PM. Let’s also assume that there are about 350 words on each page

In order for anyone to read the entire bill in 13 hours, they’d have to start the very minute they got it and read over 1.8 pages a minute every minute, without a break. They’ll be clocking in at a reading speed of 640.5 words per minute at that rate. If anyone needs a potty break, they’d better take the bill with them. Forget eating.

Clearly the powers that be in Congress don't want too close of scrutiny of the bill. They have allegedly reformatted it online to make it more difficult to find on the web via Google so your average Joe won't read it either.

wonderful

/sigh

Well, I did some checking and the reformat was simply to break the Bill into 2 .pdfs (likely because of size), so I think that is entirely innocent. Here are the links if you want to read it for yourself:

part A: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/Recovery_Bill_Div_A.pdf

part B: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/Recovery_Bill_Div_B.pdf

Its not significantly different from the bills that they passed prior ... just merging the house with the senate one. Additionally most of our representatives don't read the bills anyway - their staff does. Lastly, even after the bill is passed and signed it has to go back through apropriations or it doesn't get its money and apropriations can certainly leave objectional parts out if they feel the need to. Its size and volume is going to be read by the press and critics before their vote none the less. (The Politico for example has broken the bill into numerous parts not to mention everything leaked out in advance)

That being said the process is so fucking convoluted and complex it really makes it impossible for the average citizen to form an oppinion, which can't simply be a coincidence. Albeit that isn't specific to this bill but rather all bills.

Going back through appropriations is going to be the same thing though. It'll be rammed through ASAP.

I'd agree though that this is definitely not unusual. These bills have become so ginormous that too few read them before they're signed. Patriot act, anyone?

My cousin Heath is getting allot of flack from his party for speaking out on the bill.


Among the other players in Obama's "do-nothing" caucus are the 11 Democrats who opposed the stimulus in the House. Among them is Heath Shuler, who places the blame for the bill's colossal public relations problems exactly where it belongs:
Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler said Monday that his party's leadership on Capitol Hill has failed to pursue a bipartisan compromise to a costly economic stimulus package, arguing that a lack of Republican support is eroding the program's credibility.
The conservative Democrat, who represents a western North Carolina district, was one of a handful in his party to oppose the stimulus package when the House voted on it two weeks ago. He said Democratic leaders in Congress haven't made any effort to hear his concerns or assuage his fears about the spending bill since the vote...
"I truly feel that's where maybe House leadership and Senate leadership have really failed," Shuler said.
For speaking truth to power, Shuler got a rather personal smackdown from Sen. Harry Reid's spokesperson:
Let me get this straight - this is coming from a guy who threw more than twice as many interceptions than touchdowns?

ever seen the actual verbage of a bill, there is entire chuncks of pages that are skippable just cause they spell oout legal mumbojumbo.

Of course, we know who actually writes and approves these bills, right?

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/2/12/congressional-offices-dont-have-the-stimulus-bill-lobbyists-do.html

We're receiving E-mails from Capitol Hill staffers expressing frustration that they can't get a copy of the stimulus bill agreed to last night at a price of $789 billion. What's more, staffers are complaining about who does have a copy: K Street lobbyists. E-mails one key Democratic staffer: "K Street has the bill, or chunks of it, already, and the congressional offices don't. So, the Hill is getting calls from the press (because it's leaking out) asking us to confirm or talk about what we know—but we can't do that because we haven't seen the bill. Anyway, peeps up here are sort of a combo of confused and like, 'Is this really happening?'" Reporters pressing for details, meanwhile, are getting different numbers from different offices, especially when seeking the details of specific programs.

Worse, there seem to be several different versions of what was agreed upon, with some officials circulating older versions of the package that seems to still be developing. Leadership aides said that it will work out later today and promised that lawmakers will get time to review the bill before Friday's vote.

http://cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=43478&print=on

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) predicted on Thursday that none of his Senate colleagues would "have the chance" to read the entire final version of the $790-billion stimulus bill before the bill comes up for a final vote in Congress.

“No, I don’t think anyone will have the chance to [read the entire bill],” Lautenberg told CNSNews.com.

Have we just become so desensitized to this status quo that we don't care how/why/when they throw our futures in hock?

If you are just getting concerned you're getting involved a bit too late. I spoke with my congressman's LD back before their vote, and sent a letter to Webb's office shortly there after. I'm especially glad the part I wrote about is no longer in the current version of the bill (much to the dismay of the Realtor's Association) - though the bulk of the bill has my seal of approval.

I'm getting more concerned about the lack of concern I see around me. My own concern is obviously (assuming this isn't your first time here) not new.

Yeah, I think it's safe to say most people who visit this forum are concerned and have been for some time.

Dear Sanchek:

It would be an oversimplification to impugn people's lack of concern as apathy, laziness, and fatalism - but certainly, for the last 30 years now, we as a nation have largely abdicated our citizenship responsibilities (rights) and succumbed to the siren song of the advertisers, lobbyists, and others who, starting with the Reagan administration, have increasingly told/sold us what we *wanted* to hear for a variety of reasons both benign and malevolent. At this point, people are starting to look around the ruin of our country and asking: "what the hell?" but the fact is that after thirty years of atrophy, our critical-thinking muscles aren't in the best of shape, and we wake to find that numerous barriers to and inequalities with regard to our access to the actual power process have been erected as well. We as a population have been (more or less complicitly I might add - It's morning in America! (snoooort!)) regressed into childhood - and even at this late date seem to keep expecting that 'someone' will clean up the mess and that the institutions we've neglected or actively undermined and reviled for the past thirty years will continue to be there.

Our citizenry is being rudely awakened from its bender realizing that they're not getting fed anymore, their diapers aren't getting changed, but are largely too bewildered and lost to realize that this is a process that is *still happening* and that how steep that slide to the floor is is still to a certain extent in our hands - and even if they are, it's simply much *easier* to retreat into fatalism (and escapism) once we've made the reduced-expectations adjustment (see: pick your favorite Latin American country).

I was chatting with a friend the other day and I told him that I thought the critical question with regard to our current crisis was how long the American people would be able to remain 'awake' - that is to say, actively engaged in trying to petition/engage their government for its original purpose of redress. His reply: 'I'm not optimistic".

As I have said before, while I don't think that term limits necessarily solve anything (there *is* merit in having someone with experience in that job,and *base* Congressional salaries aren't excessive) we desperately need a revisit/reform of the 'free speech' decision allowed corporations to enjoy the same 'free speech' rights as private citizens and thus their lobbyists to have undue influence on our elected officials and pervert its arguments - and also of antitrust/monopoly laws regarding media outlets. Corporations and paid lobbying interests are not individuals. They have far more money and influence than the typical citizen (or citizen's group) and are effectively immortal. Instead of term limits, I'd like to see the money stripped out of the political process in no uncertain terms - and I'd like to see the penalty for *any* accepting of lobbying funds and/or perks being hard time in the pokey.

Until ideas are being considered on their merits, and not what is going to benefit whose pocketbook (or re-election campaign), we don't stand a chance of meaningful reform in this country - it's simply not in the best interest of our marketing looters.

Late for a meeting, it'll be interesting to see whether anything meaningful occurs regarding all the outraged chubby infants with sticks...

Regards,
Nydia

If you are just getting concerned you're getting involved a bit too late. I spoke with my congressman's LD back before their vote, and sent a letter to Webb's office shortly there after. I'm especially glad the part I wrote about is no longer in the current version of the bill (much to the dismay of the Realtor's Association) - though the bulk of the bill has my seal of approval.

Wrote to my Senator and Congressman.. Told them to shitcan the whole thing. This is bad business and IS going to fail. Of course a bit more eloquently then I post here of course.

Yes, this is all a matter of concern. No one will argue that. The question is...what is it we can do as every day run of the mill people to influence these events and the answer is a resounding jack shit. Best we can do is keep on keeping on, and hope that those whose main focus in life is to represent our best interests are doing their jobs so we can do ours. We don't get a chance to vote on everything that passes through the government process and even more of it is beyond the comprehension of the average voter. These are ugly times and solutions are going to be ugly as well.

Kelraz is right when it comes to the bureaucrats and lower level managers doing the real hatchet work when it comes time to release the actual funds. There are indefinite numbers of ways for a frivolous project to be held up to the point of being killed, just by crafting the proper paperwork, adhearing to all the correct rules, and then being able to safely "Run for the tall grass" when the pissed off lions come around. Red tape has its uses. Just because a bill passes with a big number as its ceiling that all the funds will be allowed to be spent. In the end if the nation wants speedy infusions of cash than oversight will go out the window. If the nation want honest and responsible use of these funds than the delay from the red tape and approval process will make alot of these projects a day late and a buck short....and pointless. It would be better to not ask for, let alone spend, the money at all.

Best we can do is keep on keeping on, and hope that those whose main focus in life is to represent our best interests are doing their jobs so we can do ours.

Dangerous assumption.

Dangerous assumption.

/shrug. Maybe. But I am pretty fuck'n busy. Most of the time I don't even have an address. I got back from Iraq just this past Friday late at night and I leave for China first thing in the morning on this coming Monday. I have more important things to worry about besides how I need to convince my congress person to not be a retard by putting their own greed first instead of the best interest of their nation and their constituents. Even if I am not out of the country (which is most of the time) I am either getting ready for the next trip or am looking for something fun to do as a much needed relief.

Now my life can't be that much different from most others in the fact that there are tangiable things going on RIGHT NOW in your own home or work that have to recieve attention. Children. School. Spouces. Meetings. Deadlines. Paperwork. The list goes on. Day to day shit that eats up time and if you blow it off it leads to real time headaches in the here and now. I like to think that when I vote I do my homework, but unfortunately I have not voted the past few elections. Other things took priority. I don't have much control over things 10 miles up the road, but I do have control over my own professional dealings. Typically as long as I keep that focus all the rest of the chips fall into place.

Who do you think voted on the repeal of Glass-Steagall? Faith is not working, and as Nydia pointed out, has not been for some time.

Being busy is a lousy excuse for turning a blind eye to the future. Everyone's busy. Remember the story of the ant and the grasshopper? Here comes Winter.

Since when do Congressmen read bills?

And besides. Lets all calm down and put this bill in proper historical perspective.

In WW2 our spending was at least 2x the % against GDP that it is going to be with this bill.

Why were we willing to spend so much? Because there was a real and tangible threat to our way of life that required massive government spending to beat. Were there some people arguing "Lets not spend all this money to fight this war"? I'm sure there were.

I do not see the difference between spending for a war and spending to save our economy. And WW2 showed us that the debt is irrelevant when compared to the threat of non action.

You can not compare short-term deficit spending to even more deficit spending during long-term deficit spending. If our national debt was 0, the arguments for a tradeoff between debt and immediate cash influx woud be much, much different. However that is the fallacious starting point for any argument for it.

The real and tangible threat to our way of life is we have allowed ourselves to believe in the neoliberalism hype that a debt-driven, inflationary monetary system is the only way the world can work. The best thing you could put in this bill would be increasing it by .001% to pay for mandatory classic economics education for any elected representative.

Being busy is a lousy excuse for turning a blind eye to the future. Everyone's busy. Remember the story of the ant and the grasshopper? Here comes Winter.

There is always pressure to do more, Sanchek. Strive for the perfect mind, body and soul always, and you know what? The critics shit on you anyway so screw it. Focus on what yeilds the best results. Maybe I could be writing a letter to my congress person instead of being on this board, but I don't even know who my congress person is nor do I have enough time or desire to do the homework to make an intelligent statement. Its that whole part of being not home most of the time. I do my job and as a military member, that is holding up my end of the bargain, so please stop quoting me on my lack of interest or want of putting forth an effort to look over the shoulder of elected officials. You all can do that if you want. Its why I get up and go to work everyday. So yah, being busy is my excuse and I am sticking with it. As to why others are not as proactive to the degree that you feel they should be, well who is to say they arn't? Maybe they just arn't making as much fuss about it but there is a concern? Honestly, what should be done? Nothing?

If you don't even know who's representing you in Congress, talking about perfection is a bit of a strawman, don't you think?

I've read as much as I can from this mess that's being passed and I see more of the same. It looks like me more of "throw money and it'll naturally create jobs".

Show me how any of that is true.

I called my rep Ron Bishop and begged him not to pass this bill...

That additional capital creates jobs is not debatable, it has been proven. How much money where equals how many jobs is a much more cogent question.


Honestly, what should be done? Nothing?

That's the crux of the problem. These people know that to be seen as doing nothing is a political death sentence. They don't know what they're doing, but they must be seen as doing something. The reactionaries currently have it easy in that all they have to do is be obstructionist and that will look like something to their supporters, but still isn't accomplishing anything.

They know what they are doing.

I was reading that that a conversation with Japans Prime Minister during the lost decade revealed that when he pointed to his biggest mistake, it was not infusing cash into the system fast enough. They were so scared and timid about it that doing it piecemeal was a mistake that haunted them for 10 years.

This is required reading btw.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/world/asia/06japan.html

I've read as much as I can from this mess that's being passed and I see more of the same. It looks like me more of "throw money and it'll naturally create jobs".

Show me how any of that is true.

I called my rep Ron Bishop and begged him not to pass this bill...

Kinda curious, who did you talk to and what did they say in response?

You talked to an unpaid intern who then gave your phone call the correct heading in the log and went about their business.

The ONLY thing that ever makes it to the Senator/Representative is a very sincere hand-written letter, preferably from a constituent group that the lawmaker needs support from.

One lesson Mr. Geithner has said he took away from that experience is that spending must come in quick, massive doses, and be continued until recovery takes firm root.

That's the same mentality as the "disaster capitalist" use for shock therapy arguments. It's not fact, it's ideology.

If you don't even know who's representing you in Congress, talking about perfection is a bit of a strawman, don't you think?

I am not advocating perfection. I was merely stating that society puts forth pressure to strive for it. Part of my imperfection, if you will, is that yes I do have some concerns about these issues, but No, I do not feel concerned enough to want to do the job of or question the job being done by whoever represents me in government. I have some faith in these officials for the same reasons don't go up to the front of the plane and pester the pilots about the job they are doing keeping the plane smoothly in the air. Perhaps they have more education and experience than I do in those matters so best to let them run with it so I can keep focused and objective on my own affairs. If they royally fuck up in a tangible way, that is removed from political opinion, then its time to vote them out the same way I decide to pick a different airline as long as the plane didn't crash. The reaches of my concern is to attempt to keep some what informed inspite of being out of the country most of the time and also to keep an open mind that alot of what is going on is complicated for even those who have PhDs in these topics. Everyone here seems to speak like they have had the experience of handling a global financial melt down every other week and that those who are are entrusted to handle it are idiots because they don't have the experience. Granted this kind of event only happens once in a person's career but still. We know as much if not less than these guys and gals being thrown under the bus by our own personal spins on ideology so don't argue that experience and/or logic is the only guiding light here on this board. If you think you are that much better, well fuck RUN FOR AN OFFICE. Maybe government could benefit from having the insight of those who know the answers as opposed to the perceived status quo of those who do not.

You talked to an unpaid intern who then gave your phone call the correct heading in the log and went about their business.

The ONLY thing that ever makes it to the Senator/Representative is a very sincere hand-written letter, preferably from a constituent group that the lawmaker needs support from.

I disagree sir, atleast in my case. I had Adam Putnam call me after a lengthy email i typed concerning a local electric company dibacle that was costing tax payers a lot of money. His secretary called to make sure it was me and he discussed my email with me for about an hour. Granted nothing changed and we basically in a way only a person in public office can do, told me we'll agree to disagree.

I am not advocating perfection. I was merely stating that society puts forth pressure to strive for it. Part of my imperfection, if you will, is that yes I do have some concerns about these issues, but No, I do not feel concerned enough to want to do the job of or question the job being done by whoever represents me in government. I have some faith in these officials for the same reasons don't go up to the front of the plane and pester the pilots about the job they are doing keeping the plane smoothly in the air. Perhaps they have more education and experience than I do in those matters so best to let them run with it. If they royally fuck up in a tangible way, that is removed from political opinion, then its time to vote them out the same way I decide to pick a different airline as long as the plane didn't crash. The reaches of my concern is to attempt to keep some what informed inspite of being out of the country most of the time and also to keep an open mind that alot of what is going on is complicated for even those who have PhDs in these topics.

If you're happy enough leaving them to do whatever they want, they aren't really your representatives are they? So far, all I see is you representing them...

My representative (Tom Price) is a medical doctor. I'm pretty happy with him and his voting record. At the same time, why the hell would I trust an MD as an expert on economics? Would you let an economist give you a vasectomy?

This blind faith in government is cute individually, but damn scary on the aggregate.

I can translate what he said even though I know nothing of the conversation:

Graystone: I have an issue with the huge electric company...they are wrong...please help us citizens fix this.

The translated answer follows:

What? Are you fucking nuts? Do you know how much that company pays my wife to do outside consulting for them? It's a 4 million a year contract and my wife had no experience in utility construction...so get the fuck out and go complain to someone who gives a shit.

Oh and by the way...be sure and vote for me at election time!

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/21/news/economy/yang_japan.fortune/

So, we need to take the time to make sure all the stimulus projects are good, worthy ones, but we need to do it yesterday? We're now so desperate that we're hanging our hopes on rash action being more effective than more well planned?

Ugh.

If you're happy enough leaving them to do whatever they want, they aren't really your representatives are they? So far, all I see is you representing them..

Seeing as you have backed me into a corner....

I am in the military, working on loan to the State Dept. They sign my checks. I follow their orders. I believe its not wise to shit where you eat. In many ways you are correct. I do represent them to a degree. I see more dumb political crap than you can imagine, and it has to roll off because the work has gotta get done. It gives me more than enough on my plate as it is. Its hard to get the government to work for you......when you work for the government. It can sometimes make you give up on the system quicker than working in the private sector, but then again you have to make your little cog spin the best as it can to assure that the system still works. That make any kind of sense?

You're not alone in that decision process either. Our government is the largest employer in the world, by far. It's very troubling to see that bias so pervasive, and only increasing with this stimulus bill.

I do understand and sympathize with your loyalties there though. I'd probably feel the same way in your shoes.

If you know how Washington works, the longer that bill stays in Congress, the more fucked up it gets. And there are many ideologues who would love nothing more than to kill the thing by delay if the general screwing up doesn't do it.

Time is of the essence with regards to this thing, we dont have 2 or 3 months to dick around. That money needs to be pumped in the economy ASAP. The numbers of unemployed each month are accelerating.

Now could you make a case that another week would be good? Yes, you could. However that would have taken a good faith request from the Republicans. But they are not operating in good faith. Another week would have only meant another week of political grandstanding and in the end, the same result.

So, we need to take the time to make sure all the stimulus projects are good, worthy ones, but we need to do it yesterday? We're now so desperate that we're hanging our hopes on rash action being more effective than more well planned?

As for this one. Yah, it sucks but that is democracy. Lots of people get their say and yet there is fear that letting the process work as it should will allow the patient to die while the docs argue over what medicine to prescribe. Even if its the wrong medicine. If all they are looking to do is inject money into the economy than even the ill-conceived pork projects have merit which further fuels debate since that gets people all spun up on ideology. This hints on what LL is saying. The longer its in debate, the longer it can be picked apart, or as us squids would say "nuked" and it would be that much longer before it could be implemented and what does get implemented would be that much more wrong than the knee-jerk plan at its inception.

If you know how Washington works, the longer that bill stays in Congress, the more fucked up it gets. And there are many ideologues who would love nothing more than to kill the thing by delay if the general screwing up doesn't do it.

Time is of the essence with regards to this thing, we dont have 2 or 3 months to dick around. That money needs to be pumped in the economy ASAP. The numbers of unemployed each month are accelerating.

Now could you make a case that another week would be good? Yes, you could. However that would have taken a good faith request from the Republicans. But they are not operating in good faith. Another week would have only meant another week of political grandstanding and in the end, the same result.

I can agree with that. If they insist on spending their way out, they should do it sooner rather than later.

It's the method in which the damn thing's being rammed through the system that sets off warning bells in every corner of my mind though.

"Terrorists" : Patriot Act :: Economy : Stimulus

Christ only knows what shit we're going to find buried in it a year from now that's worse than the original threat ever was.

If it works, none of that matters.

Does the fact that we haven't had a "terrorist" attack since the Patriot Act was passed justify its shredding the 4th Amendment?

I was hoping that Lummus would speak up in his own defense - and he *is* correct that, as active duty military, his free speech rights are somewhat curtailed (by oath and UCMJ as well as by culture!) compared to us civilians. That said, were I him I would at least have exercised my right of voting, as you absolutely can't be subjected to retaliation for that (even if you *are* sometimes subjected to coercion). I can understand, if you are moving frequently, reluctance to vote in local elections where one might not be adequately informed about who is running for school board, etc; but I'd want to know who my reps and their policy positions were, at least.

The politicization of the military in recent years is something we've discussed on this board, and has been inculcated deliberately and unconscionably by those who don't share Lummus' scruples, obscuring judgment with ideology, sometimes with disastrous results. It's ironic that those who relied heavily on that 'no political activism while on active duty' edict to keep both the military rank and file and civil service in line had no qualms about using the heavy hand of ideology to both select for and retaliate against those both in civil and military service...

Re the bill itself, I was distressed that education spending was cut as 'pork' while yet more money is being doled out to the banks without any clear plan for valuing and buying off toxic assets, nor any concrete help to homeowners (and keeping homeowners *in* their houses is possible the best return-on-investment we could make in the short term regarding the house-of-cards asset collapse). The drop in real estate prices is resulting in huge drops in income to state and local municipalities which is where education is funded from these days. If we're not keeping people in their houses *or* supplying funds to education, where are the additional 500k people per month that are hitting the unemployment line going to go for retraining, as educators themselves are let go in order to make budgets?

Regards,
Nydia

http://cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=43478&print=on


I am curious how many of these whining Congressmen/women actually read the bill they passed under Bush for the bank rescue. This is simply partisan politics at it's normal manner of trying to impede the other side from getting something done that might make them look more on top of things then your party.

Violations of rights are different than spending money.

If the recovery package works, we are saving money in the long run and will make up what we lost.

If we give up our rights, we never get them back.

You cant possibly mean to equate natural rights with money.

It's not the specific content of the bills I'm comparing, but the hasty, reactionary manner in which they've been introduced (and passed).

And yes, if I could buy back my 4th Amendment for $1, I would do it in a heartbeat. Assuming that throwing some money at the problem will make it better is just as nebulous a proposition.

I am curious how many of these whining Congressmen/women actually read the bill they passed under Bush for the bank rescue. This is simply partisan politics at it's normal manner of trying to impede the other side from getting something done that might make them look more on top of things then your party.

I think the more important point is that, like you said, none of them are reading these things when they get rushed through.

We've already watched the rushed bank bailout fail. Banks still are barely lending. They're raising interest rates on credit cards, even if you pay and have good credit. There's been massive fraud (at least in my eyes) in terms of how the money was used (e.g. bonuses, acquisitions, etc).

Now we're watching them do it again, and for some insane reason expecting that they'll get it right this time. Fool me twice.... you cain't get fooled again!

It's not the specific content of the bills I'm comparing, but the hasty, reactionary manner in which they've been introduced (and passed).

And yes, if I could buy back my 4th Amendment for $1, I would do it in a heartbeat. Assuming that throwing some money at the problem will make it better is just as nebulous a proposition.

It does seem that the bill has a bit more depth and planning than the Bush/Paulson version passed in Sept. That is a huge difference, the first one was simply throwing money at things and if you remember correctly it couldn't pass without Republican support and again if you remember the Republicans would not support it until there were add ons to the bill.

Boehners boys are simply following the real leader of the Republicans - Rush Limbaugh.

Forget the partisan stuff. The only purpose of that is to distract both "sides" from the heart of the matter.

http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/view/12396

Forks of the Road Heritage Trail. This project would greatly enhance one of the primary gateways to our city by creating an African American/Ethnic Heritage Trail along a stretch of St. Catherine Street between the Forks of the Road Slave Market Site

$600,000,000.00

Seriously?

An article in the Natchez Democrat further explains that the $600 million figure in the U.S. Conference of Mayors report is incorrect. The correct amount, according to an official quoted in the article, is $1 million.

Kinda curious, who did you talk to and what did they say in response?

Spoke to the same Aide I always do when I call in. They say the same thing, thank you for the call.

I do love how she answered the phone "okay give it to me" lmao

From what I gathered there's been a bit of heat to Ron Bishop over this pork to nowhere bill.