Hidden Legislation

Respect My Authoritah!

“ Those already outraged by the president's health care legislation now have a new bone of contention -- a scarcely noticed tack-on provision to the law that puts gold coin buyers and sellers under closer government scrutiny.  Gold Coin Sellers Angered by New Tax Law ”

During the the Senate Ethics Committee's "Keating Five" investigation  in late 1989, Alan Cranston absented himself after claiming he was being treated for cancer ( miraculously cured when the hearings ended). At some point a legislative aide, testifying in Cranston's behalf, casually admitted that she, and other staffers, would routinely change, insert and otherwise "clarify" enacted  legislation during the conference committee that reconciled differences in House and Senate versions. *Gasps*  Big hub-bub ensued, most likely, in retrospect,  for the benefit of the C-Span audience.¹  That this could happen was news to me, and begged the question, "How in hell are we to know what laws that govern our behavior  were actually debated and voted on, and which were casually inserted by some staffer with a yen?"  The 10 million pages, or so,  that comprise the Obamacare legislation,  prolly contains hundreds of little treasures like the gold buyer tax.   We'll find out what they are when the IRS sends the penalty notice.  Am I the only person seething over this, and other corrupt practices by our gummint?  I think not.  Here's a "fix" that is better than many alternatives that involve bloodshed.  Sunset every single law after 10years.  I mean every law. If it's worthwhile, it will be reintroduced and reenacted.  Most will not.  I have a groinal tingle just thinking about it; you do too, wot? ¹  Don't go looking for verification of  the Cranston story.  Democrats  had the investigation transcripts  sealed, so I can, like congress, just make stuff up.  (But I didn't)