What we got for our $14,500* -- Billy Long votes last week include approving a 7 million dollar decal for a race car

Here are some selected votes cast by Congressman Billy Long on amendments to H.R.1 last week:

Eliminates Financing for Planned Parenthood(H.AMDT.95)
This amendment proposing cutting the entire $317 million program of aid for family planning. It would also bar Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funds for any purpose.
Long voted YES to eliminating financing

Reduces Financing for the N.E.A.(H.AMDT.52)
Citing the high federal deficit, many Republicans have questioned the need to support arts programs with government financing. This amendment was introduced to reduce financing for the National Endowment for the Arts back to fiscal 2006 levels (about $21 million).
Long voted YES to reduce financing for the NEA (not sure if he got the N.E.A.'s confused on this one or not.

Restores $50 Million in Heating Subsidies for the Poor(H.AMDT.55)
The chamber rejected this effort by Representative Charles F. Bass, Republican of New Hampshire, to add $50 million back to the budget for the Low Energy Assistance Program, which provides heating subsidies for the poor.
Long voted NO to restoring funding.

To Reduce Funding for Amtrak(H.AMDT.75)
There were enough supporters of the rail service in the chamber to defeat this amendment, which would have slashed the service's budget by $447 million.
Long voted YES to reduce funding.

Cancels F-35 Jet Engine Program(H.AMDT.16)
This proposal to cancel the alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter would cut an additional $450 million and save up to $3 billion over the next several years. It won bipartisan support and overcame the opposition of House Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio
Long voted YES to cancel the alternate engine program.

To Reduce Financing for Iraq by $1.5 Billion(H.AMDT.18)

This amendment would have eliminated $1.5 billion allocated for security forces in Iraq. "If we are going to be cutting Pell grants and energy research and heating assistance for families here in the United States, we certainly should take a hard look at Pentagon spending as well," the amendment's sponsor, Representative Rush D. Holt, Democrat of New Jersey, said.
Long voted NO to reducing financing for Iraq by $1.5 billion.

To Eliminate Financing for the Draft Boards(H.AMDT.37)

The amendment's sponsor, Representative Peter A. DeFazio, Democrat of Oregon, called the Selective Service System "a dead bureaucracy that does nothing and never will do anything." He urged that the $24 million allocated for 2011 be eliminated.
Long voted NO to eliminating financing for draft boards.

To Eliminate $19 Million From Defense Budget (H.AMDT.11)

This amendment would strip nearly $19 million from an operations and maintenance account. "I realize the amount of savings in this amendment is relatively small compared to the overall defense budget, but I think the point has to be made here that the defense budget is not sacrosanct," the amendment's sponsor, Representative Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said to no avail.

Long voted NO to eliminating $19 million for the Defense Budget.

Prohibits Government Sponsoring of Nascar Cars(H.AMDT.92)
This amendment would prohibit the Defense Department from sponsoring cars in Nascar races. According to the amendment's sponsor, Representative Betty McCollum, Democrat of Minnesota, the Army, Navy and National Guard have all sponsored race cars. "Incredibly, over the past decade hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have subsidized race car owners and millionaire drivers in the name of military recruitment," she said.
Long voted NO, keeping the 7 million dollar decal on the #39 Ryan Newman car.


Make up your own jokes.

*Long's monthly government paycheck is around $14,500. This $14,500 does not include his per diem and his gov't paid health insurance plan.

Contrast this to the average Social Security benefit received by retirees in the 7th Congressional district which is around $13,000.

Contrast this to the average wage of Springfield which, as reported in Sunday's SN-L is around $30,000. Long makes more on the government payroll in two months than the average Springfieldian makes in a year.