EDITORIAL PORK PURVEYANCE IS IT TOO MUCH TO HOPE FOR A FAIR SHAKE ON FEDERAL FUNDS?NO doubt the jockeying has already started among those Congress members who want to take over departing Rep. Bill Thomas' leadership of the House Ways and Means WAYS AND MEANS. In legislative assemblies there is usually appointed a committee whose duties are to inquire into, and propose to the house, the ways and means to be adopted to raise funds for the use of the government. This body is called the committee of ways and means. committee. And why not? Undoubtedly, this is one of the most powerful positions on Capitol Hill. And now that the Bakersfield Republican has said he's retiring at the end of the year, it's a rare opportunity for some up-and-coming member who knows the power of the purse The power of the purse is the ability of one group to manipulate and control the actions of another group by withholding funding, or putting stipulations on the use of funds. The power of the purse can be used positively (e.g. strings. At the risk of seeming naive, we're hoping that Thomas' successor but be less a purveyor of pork and distribute the government's largess lar·gess also lar·gesse n. 1. a. Liberality in bestowing gifts, especially in a lofty or condescending manner. b. Money or gifts bestowed. 2. Generosity of spirit or attitude. more fairly. Politics will always be involved in the distribution of federal funds Federal Funds Funds deposited to regional Federal Reserve Banks by commercial banks, including funds in excess of reserve requirements. Notes: These non-interest bearing deposits are lent out at the Fed funds rate to other banks unable to meet overnight reserve , but it doesn't have to be so hair-tearingly obvious as it was in recent years when top terrorist targets, such as Los Angeles, got short shrift in homeland security funds. |
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