The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. Received Dec. 22, 2020.
The much-heralded bill just passed by Congress and now awaiting President Trump’s signature, in addition to direct payments to individuals, is a gigantic spending bill into which Members of Congress have included spending for all kinds of pet projects. Our Connecticut Members brag about the full restoration of the second Virginia-class submarine, support for homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations, money for the federal courthouse in Hartford, a tax benefit for volunteer First Responders, funding to clean up Plum Island, funding for environmental protection and economic development, expanding child nutrition and SNAP benefits, federal funding for Title I grants for Local education agencies, increasing maximum Pell Grants for students. One must wonder whether the $2 billion for Amtrak will reignite the high-speed train effort which would destroy the center of Old Lyme. No doubt all 435 Members had to include some fat of their own to satisfy their constituents. Is this what we expect our Members of Congress to do?
The point is not whether some of these projects are worthy. Instead of a mad rush to include everything possible these things need to be discussed and debated in a responsible way. The problem with them is that many are a difficult and, in some cases, an impossible stretch to include them in a bill purported to be about Covid-19 relief and taxpayers will eventually have to pay the bill. Wouldn’t it be better to strip the fat and create a Covid-19 relief bill which provides direct support to the individuals and the small local businesses affected by the pandemic?
Ed Munster
Haddam, CT
