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Now that the behemoth "stimulus" package has been reconciled in conference it appears that we, the taxpayers, will be saddled with financing a superfluity of special interest projects and entitlements. From programs that serve to combat sexually transmitted diseases and facilitate smoking prevention initiatives to the $30 million earmarked -- yes, earmarked -- for a wetlands restoration project (web site) meant to protect the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse, We the People have been bamboozled into financing the biggest raid on the US Treasury in the history of our nation. But before we grab the pitchforks and the torches and start marching down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House in protest, we should consider the facts surrounding the crafting of this abysmal piece of pork legislation.

The American citizenry has employed the convenient practice of blaming the President of the United States for all things enacted or ignored by government. This practice has been facilitated by the mainstream media for decades, if not since the birth of our nation. It can be argued that we have fallen into this practice primarily because it is easier and less time consuming than keeping tabs on each of the 535 voting members of Congress. But in taking the less engaged and less accurate approach to holding our elected officials accountable we perpetuate the misconception that the Executive Branch is all powerful. In fact, it is the Legislative Branch of our government that is charged -- exclusively -- with the tasks of finance and legislation.

Article I, Section 1 of the US Constitution reads, in part:

"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."

With this entry into the Charters of Freedom, (web site) the Framers entrusted the sole authority to craft, amend and enact legislation. While the Executive Branch does indeed have the luxury of the bully pulpit, in the end the only roll the President has, with regard to legislation, is to either sign the bill into law or veto the bill. A veto sends it back to the Legislative Branch to either survive through a vote to override the presidential veto or be cast off into oblivion.

Article I, Section 7 reads, in part:

"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."

And Article I, Section 8 states, in part:

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises..."

With this the Framers ensconced the sole authority over the legislation of issues of revenue to the Legislative Branch.

This clarity of constitutional literacy (web site) understood, my emphasis on the constitutional actualities should in no way be misconstrued to imply support or defense for President Obama's efforts in this debacle. His advocacy for this unprecedented raid on the US Treasury -- through the efforts of his Chicago Democrat machine enforcer, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel -- makes him culpable in its enactment, as does his signing it into law. But the true ownership of this appallingly irresponsible piece of legislation rests with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

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