And The Debt Goes On
To The Editor:

Recent announcements by members of the Queens Congressional delegation of bringing home the bacon by funding for various member items is not necessarily good news. Under President [George W.] Bush and the former GOP-controlled Congress, federal long-term debt increased by over $3 trillion, growing from less than $6 trillion to over $9 trillion. This represents the greatest growth of longterm debt under any six-year period.

We have also seen the largest increase in the numbers [of] and dollars spent on pork barrel projects known as member items. Many have been hidden under numerous "Emergency Spending" bills. They number in the tens of thousands at a total cost of several hundred billion dollars. Democrats now in control of Congress are no different as they continue the same time-honored practice of programming their own billions of dollars in member item pork barrel spending. A majority of the 9,000 earmarks worth over $10 billion were authored by Democrats.

The famous K Street Washington lobbyists now just send more of their Pay for Play campaign contributions to Democrats instead of Republicans.

Both President Bush and Congress (both Republicans and Democrats) continue their addiction to spending like drunken sailors, regardless of the cost to taxpayers. At least drunken sailors spend their own money. [President Bush and Congress] are leaving the next generation a debt of over $9 trillion, which could very well bankrupt them. Sincerely, Larry Penner Great Neck