Pace Setting Pension Protection

I urge everyone, if you haven't already, fight to bring transparency into our government. One good way is to utilize GovTrack and stay abreast of federal legislation, voting records, and contributions. As an example, look at the available information on H.R. 4, the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

And while we are on the PPA, just how much transparency was allowed in the formation and the passage of H.R. 4? According to the Pension Rights Center, the lack of transparency surrounding H.R. 4 is unconscionable!

H.R. 4 was sponsored by John Boehner, who lives in a two-bedroom Capitol Hill apartment owned by a Washington lobbyist. Here is a little background on Boehner:

Some background . . . The "K Street Project" was formally established in 1995 by Grover Norquist, Newt Gingrich’s chief political operative, and long-time friend of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The ongoing project is a high-stakes patronage scheme led initially by Rep. Tom DeLay and now Sen. Rick Santorium. When interest groups hire Republicans, they gain access and influence. When they hire Democrats, they get punished. Even before the K Street project emerged, John Boehner established his "Thursday Group," which gave an elite circle of corporate lobbyists direct access to House GOP leadership.

Today, at least 24 former aides to Boehner have registered as federal lobbyists or proceeded to work in corporate public affairs and advocacy.

Boehner's former chief of staff, Barry Jackson, is now Karl Rove's White House Deputy. Jackson is also mentioned frequently as a crony of discredited lobbyist and confessed felon Jack Abramoff.

Another sponsor of H.R. 4 is John Kline. Kline is said to have received $30,000 in contributions from former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's political action committee ARMPAC, which is tied up with money laundering charges.

Another sponsor of H.R. 4 is Bill Thomas. Thomas made a name for himself when he summoned the Capitol Hill Police to evict Democrats from a Ways and Means Committee room. Thomas later apologized for the outrageous actions.

I'm certainly glad we have the best politicians that our money can buy! It leaves me with a warm, fuzzy feeling deep inside just knowing they are watching out for my future interests as well as my children's future and that of their children. We are really blessed that our lawmakers were concerned enough about the future of America's pensions, that they were willing to rush H.R. 4 straight to the desk of "Dubya"! The House and the Senate set a record pace for ushering a bill to the oval office! The vacuum produced from the whirlwind of this bill is still sucking the wind from our lungs and making us dizzy! Gotta be a new record!