Multiple layers of deceit, deception and manipulation lay within this story.  In addition, the fundamental principles of the Decepticons in the Senate surface with increased clarity.

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The underlying issue is the Federal Surface Transportation Program commonly called “the Highway Bill”.  The Highway Bill is technically supposed to be a legislative tool to set priorities for the expenditure of tax revenue coming from federal gasoline taxes; roads, bridges, transportation systems – building and repairing as such.

However, as with all ‘revenue spending bills’, you find a bastardized special-interest process where more legislatures want spending on “their pet projects” than is available from the revenue raised within the tax collection.   Ergo immediately you can see the ingredients for corruption or what DC calls “sausage-making”.

Backroom deals, bribes, quid-pro-quo, lobbying schemes, booze – sex – blackmail and leverage, yep, back rubbing DC at it’s more traditional level.   Ultimately ending in more spending embedded in the authorizations than revenue raised by the taxes.  Yes, more, even more, deficit spending.

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The final product “Highway Bill” is, as a direct consequence, filled with more graft, pork, and ridiculous ‘bridge-to-nowhere’-type spending.

But wait, this is the GOPe we’re talking about here.

If Democrats can do structural scheme well, ie. Obamacare, the GOPe can do “future structural scheme” even better.

This bill is worse than usual because not only does McConnell’s Highway Bill contain deficit spending, McConnell’s Highway Bill actually contains structural future deficits (future spending well beyond possible gas tax revenues) that no President can block for at least six years.   A great summary is available HERE.

But wait, we ain’t done.  It gets worse:

[…]  In addition to the problems with the underlying bill, McConnell is showing his true colors with the amendment process.  While McConnell never passionately drives a narrative for conservatives on important policy issues, he has always championed an open process in the Senate.  That was McConnell’s raison d’etre.  Yet, he is continuing his pattern of blocking all conservative amendments while granting votes to liberal priorities.

This critical bill, regarded as “must-pass” by the political class, coincides with the period of time when Obama and his allies are implementing one radical transformational agenda item after another. What better vehicle to use for stopping at least one or two of his executive policies than the highway bill?  But McConnell will have none of that.  The one amendment he will allow for a vote?  Reauthorizing the crony Export-Import Bank – after it already expired!

McConnell refuses to allow amendments from his own party, but grants amendments from Democrats.  Well, more accurately a very specific Democrat amendment – the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.

Who do you think that benefits?….

….. wait for it….

…..Wait for it:

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Yup.  What do you know.  There’s that pesky Wall Street/Chamber of Commerce, Tom Donohue again.

But this time McConnell outdid himself.  Senator Ted Cruz was worried about the Import/Export Bank reauthorization; he and almost all conservatives do not support the crony capital spending and winner/loser selection within it.   So Ted Cruz asked Senate Leader Mitch McConnell if there was any possibility the disasterous reauthorization would find its way into the highway bill.

McConnell promised Cruz it would not.

Now watch this video:

FULL SPEECH:

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