...

Isn't it this kind of ridiculous, self-interested politics that get us into these kinds of messes. I suppose this bill isn't important enough to stand by itself. What idiotic pol would change his or her vote based on the the repeal of an arrow shaft law? Does this not prove the politicians will vote for any piece of crap as long as there is something in it for them. sickening.

@tedyc03: I concur.

what do you bet that somewhere there is someone who runs a business and wants to buy, sell, make, modify, import, export wooden dowels not much bigger around than your finger... and this part of the bill will give then a competitive advantage. Regardless of whether the dowels are for arrows or not.

Read the rest of this, it's fascinating. Lots of crap, like a fund to train emergency workers for mine accidents, aid for American Samoa, and lots more. Worth your time if you are an American citizen.

I can't wait for The Daily Show and The Colbert Report to cover this.

Is this some sort of joke? Really, Is there some senator out there that is owned by the All Wood Arrow Shaft Commission or the AWASC? Last I heard the AWASC is worse than PETA.

This is all part of the billion+ pork add on that makes this bill "impossible" to not pass. By tacking on so many special interest bull, the House cannot address the specific financial aspects without dealing with all the little pet projects.

Anyone know how to find out who introduced the pork to the bill?

@tedyc03:
+1

I want the name of the congressman who inserted this clause. That way if the whole bailout bill goes down in flames again, we have someone to blame!

Damn special interests groups ruining the American economy! Last time this happened it was the brass plated drawer-pull guys who were responsible.

GreatWhiteNorth: Considering the alleged "financial emergency that may take down the world economy" that we have on our hands, it is irresponsible to be putting ANY pork into that bill. I don't begrudge the the dowel manufacturer, but there are far more appropriate places to insert that language.

Its so weird to see so many Democrats following a Republican president. Especially one who has misled them in the past so many times.

Weee!! Marcy Kaptur is speaking now. I <3 her.

One of the gentlemen from Ohio I believe said this about ridiculous things like that in the bill:

$192 Million for Rum. I guess we've got the pirate vote this November -- Gentleman talking at the time.

@scoosdad: Why not find the names of anyone who voted yes on this bill? Regardless of who introduced which clause, anyone voting yes deserves to be voted out of office next month.

@scoosdad:
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)

You need to read beyond the headline, Consumerist. This "tax break", as you call it, is actually a fix for unintended consequences of a previous tax. That tax ended up adding a $0.39 tax on top of wooden arrows used by Cub Scouts that cost $0.30, which more than doubled the price. This tax exemption corrects that.

I know it's a lot of fun to point at silly laws as an example of Washington's stupidity, but in this case I think this tax exemption is a good thing. A case of them correcting a previous error. Isn't that what we want them to do?

Suttin: You may want to start getting your news from real sources instead of comedians.

You know there's gotta be some tax break for fiddles sold to members of Congress provided they play them while Rome is burning.

I hate the whole idea of this bailout. I hated it then and I hate it now.

$ estimates range from $112-115 BILLION dollars in pork inserted into the bill, and people say i'm unfairly anti-government.

@xspook:

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)

@PixiePerson:

Arrr! A vote for Bailout be a vote for Rum!!!!

@beboptheflop: he should be dragged out into the street and beaten with a stick or better yet, stoned. f%^&$#ing greedy b$%#@ard!

@pezhore: Weird? Hell no, they get to spend 700 billion!It's a friggin liberals dream come true! And think of the tax increases they get to give us now! They are loving it, believe me.

Senate Speaker:"The Speaker recognizes the Esteemed Senator from ButtPoke WestArmpit."

Senator: "Mr. Speaker I have a small rider I would like to tack on to the bailout bill as I think it would both ensure that the bill passes and it will do a lot of good in ButtPoke WestArmpit. This rider will redirect all the monthly bills for Visa, Mastercard and Amex for myself and my immediate family, extended family, relatives, close buddies, friends, hangers on, and anyone else who's vote I can buy with this legislation. The bills will be redirected to the Federal Government who will pay them in full and on time so as not to adversely affect our credit reports. Thank you"

Senate Speaker:"You are welcome Senator. NEXT!"

@noscamsplease:

What's utter bullshit is that due to that ~115 billion, this will probably get passed - only adding on to the overall cost to the tax payer.

I will be taking note of all the senators and reps who represent me and be sure to send them a letter telling them they lost my vote for any future elections because they voted yes on this shit.

Check out a very incomplete top-ten list here:

[www.swamppolitics.com]

@Urgleglurk: I guess my tone was not clear... I am not support the pork... I believe legislation should be clear, honest and above board. That politicians are permitted to play Russian roulette with the economy by adding their special interests is wrong.

@beboptheflop: Umm, actually it was initially proposed by both Oregon senators, Ron Wyden [D] and Gordon Smith [R]. Did you leave the other one out on purpose?

I have a kinda weird comment. Now I do not support the Confederate States of America (The CSA) but the Confederate Constitution did have one very very nifty thing in it:

"A bill, or any resolution carrying the force of law, could only deal with a single subject, which had to be stated in the title."

Just think what would happen if we implemented that today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States_Constitution
Its in the Changes from U.S. constitution section.

So...was this measure voted down because the ensuing chaos and fear would allow for all kinds of extra crap like this to be added? I know, conspiracy theorist. But, come on!

@GreatWhiteNorth:

You're not too far off from Rep. Dan Lungren ... "She [Lungren's 91 yr old mother] has no pension; she has what my dad left her,". He's voting for the bill to "save his 91-year-old mother's finances." [economix.blogs.nytimes.com]

I already emailed all the senators I could telling them no vote from me for voting yes.

And this wooden arrow is disgusting. I want to know who introduce this and other porky items into the bill so I can send them letters too. >:-(

The Michigan can thing DOES work, if you do it on a small scale. (Say you take back 70 cans a trip and can buy yourself a free lunch.)

Of course, you have to be making the trip anyways.
Say you are from Wisconsin and go to school in Upper Michigan, for example.

Don't ask me how I know this...

THIS should mark the absolute need for ridding of earmarks. Wooden arrow shafts. That is the worst earmark I've ever heard of. Who does that help? So by the time this bill gets passed, if it does, only like 5 bucks will go to the market. The rest will be earmarks.

Can we add an earmark where people with natural red hair get $75 billion? I mean we are one of the smallest minorities and it really would benefit me to offer more employment opportunities.

How effing ridiculous. This just furthers the point that this bailout is unnecessary BS. We STILL do not know the impact if nothing is done, when STILL don't know the impact if it's approved and they get the money, and Congress doesn't want to "take it seriously" enough to pass it w/o crap like this "hidden" in it.

The funny/sad part. The congressman who this "sweetener" is actually aimed at (company in his district) has already said he's not voting for it anyway.

"We will be back next year to do major work on the finances..." Not if we (the sane americans) have anything to do with it.

I supported the "bailout" in the begining but this is downright ridiculous. Turns out that the favorable tax benfits to "sweeten the pot" was nothing more then a ton of washington pork.

As others pointed out the wooden arrows is just part of it. $100 million for race track owners, $148 for wool research, $192 for Rum (which we're all going to need more of so maybe that wasn't so bad). If there was ever a bill that should of lived or died on its own merits it was this bill. If it had to be sweetened with pork none of those people deserve a job anymore.

@pezhore: +2

glad they're covering all the things that matter!

@jaydez: I already did. Bye Bye Brian Baird.

it'd be a shame if they ever pased a law limiting the number of items that could be includd in a bill.

Of course, I'd hate to se how much pork would have to be on that one to get it passed.

Taxpayers are getting scammed. This bailout bill is such a fraud, it's unbelieveable (even for Washington). Whatever the merits of giving a break on taxation of wooden arrows, could that not be a part of a standalone bill? And all the other stuff in it, too... can that not be in standalone bills? Why is all of that other stuff needed to pass an emergency bill? Also... Congress took off for Rosh Hashanah. Emergencies can wait, I guess.

The question should be "Why is there a **Federal** sales tax on archery equipment" in the first place?

@Skeptic:

Because you can shoot an arrow across state lines... that makes it federal. :)

@pezhore:

What do you mean, "following a Republican president"? This bill is being drafted by the Democrats - you know, the party that's controlled both houses of Congress for the past two years.