In case you blinked last week and missed it, Cap and Trade was introduced, amended, voted and passed, in a stunning new demonstration of just how ridiculously illogical our political system has become.

Here’s how it went down:

• The original cap and trade bill, HR 2454, was introduced to congress May 15th
• June 23rd, the thousand-page bill was replaced by a whole new bill – HR 2998 – weighing in at 1200 pages
• At 3:09 am on June 26th, a 300 page amendment was filed
• 16 hours later, the house voted and passed the bill none of them had read

Our government was designed to move slowly, for a reason. When massive new bills are rammed through like this, it’s a deliberate attempt to cut the public out of the process.

Here’s an example of what happens when they sneak in these last minute amendments – we as taxpayers get saddled with things like the $2.7 billion in tax rebates approved under TARP for a British rum producer. That’s right – thanks to TARP, you’re now subsidizing the production of Captain Morgan rum, and they’re not even a US owned company!

All of these massive “emergency” bills prove one thing:

Our representatives’ incentives revolve around corporate welfare and special interest favors, and the only weapon we have that can trump their money and resources is our sheer numbers – it’s time to make a ruckus.

Start calling your reps to let them know you’re voting them out for negligence – they have an obligation to read and understand what they are voting into law, and if the process doesn’t allow them sufficient time to do so, they need to change the process. If they don’t agree, they’re out. It’s as simple as that.

Seriously. The gloves are coming off. Who’s with me?

Sources

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/06/27_billion_in_tarp_money_wen…
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/british-rum-maker-got-27-billion-…
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=amp5wXx35fkc

http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/onair/transcripts/tarp_misuses_and_abuses_09…

The full text of the bill, plus a complete list of how each rep voted & contact info (from opencongress)

http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2009/06/26/300-pages-out-of-thin-air/

MELT THE PHONES:

Complete list of how each rep voted, with links to contact info (from opencongress)

Here’s a quick list of “Yes” voters to get you started:

Bono Mack (CA) 202-225-5330
Castle (DE) 202-225-4165
Kirk (IL) 202-225-4835
Lance (NJ) 202-225-5361
Lobiondo (NJ) 202-225-6572
McHugh (NY) 202-225-4611
Reichart (WA) 202-225-7761
Chris Smith (NJ) 202-225-3765

Join Downsize DC’S “Read The Bills” Coalition

http://www.downsizedc.org/etp/campaigns/27