Rep. John Campbell (CA) published at piece at Politico today. Read an excerpt here:
When I was first elected to Congress in 2005, lots of people wanted to meet with me.
I naturally assumed they wanted to give me their opinions on pressing public policy issues facing the country. I was wrong.
Nearly 90 percent of my first 100 or so meetings were with people wanting me to give your taxpayer dollars to their institution, business or cause. I wondered whether I had become a congressman or some sort of ATM that doled out other people’s money.
Wouldn’t you know, hardly any meetings were with people asking me to spend less money on something.
I tell this story because it shows how deeply the culture of spending is entrenched in Washington. Each member of Congress is bombarded with requests to spend more taxpayer money on this or that.