We have learned today that the politicians in Washington and media require a civics lesson:

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

- United States Constitution, Article I, Sec. 1.


All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

- United States Constitution, Article I Sec. 7


Last night, the Republicans in the Senate temporarily thwarted the bailout of the United Auto Workers and the Nationalization of our Automakers. Today, it looks like George Bush plans to spend the $700 billion TARP bailout on the Automakers to circumvent the legislative process.

I'm sorry; but, this is patently Unconstitutional, violating Article I of the Constitution.

The TARP bill, which I was against, can only be used for Financial institutions defined in TARP as:

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION- The term ‘financial institution’ means any institution, including, but not limited to, any bank, savings association, credit union, security broker or dealer, or insurance company, established and regulated under the laws of the United States or any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or the United States Virgin Islands, and having significant operations in the United States, but excluding any central bank of, or institution owned by, a foreign government.


(source)

The Executive Branch has no power to use our tax dollars without the authority of Congress. Congress never granted any authority, which is why they tried to pass the bailout yesterday in the first place.

As far as I am concerned, violating Article I of the Constitution is a high crime and misdemeanor. Where is Dennis Kucinich? If Bush uses TARP for the UAW, I'm for impeaching this idiot.