Some people think the bail out bill passed by the Senate on Wednesday was unconstitutional, as only the House of Representatives is allowed to initiate tax legislation. The vote was scheduled for Wednesday because Senate leaders expected the House to pass the bill on Monday. When the House failed to do so, the Senate merely attached the bailout bill to another bill (dealing with mental health) that had already passed the House. With flexibility like that, who needs a Constitution?
To make the bill even more politically attractive, the Senate added nearly 300 pages of tax breaks and other special-interest legislation costing $150 billion (partly offset by $40 billion in spending cuts or tax increases elsewhere in the bill). The tax breaks go to such vital sectors of the economy as Puerto Rican rum makers, auto race tracks, bicycle commuters, restaurant remodelers, and makers of “wooden arrows designed for use by children.”
