February 15, 2005
Here's one reason the budget of the United States is out of control: President Bush wants to cut an $8.5 million program called exchanges with historic whaling and trading partners, but Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska will restore it.
That's because the Alaska Native Heritage Center gets nearly $1.7 million of the money.
This is the fourth year in a row that the president has cut the program from the budget.
And three times before Congress wouldn't let him.
Each time Congress added more to it.
Do you know how your money is being spent, or misspent?
Do you take the time to find out?
Have you ever written your Congressman or Senator and asked him or her to be more responsible in spending your money?
The waste, fraud and abuse in government is epidemic.
It continues because members of Congress have found it a useful practice to keep themselves in office at your and my expense.
Notice how every time a president wants to cut something, the various interests tied to the budget item scream in protest and speak of government, schools and libraries shutting down.
This is pathetic, but it continues because not enough people seem to care.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C. Watch his television show, After Hours with Cal Thomas, on the Fox News Channel, Saturdays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
