There were hijinks in the House of Representatives today. It seems that the Democrats objected to a pension bill and staged a walkout from a committee meeting. But they left Congressman Fortney Pete Stark (D-California, born 1931) behind. And the old boy was apparently feeling frisky:
The committee reporter captured the essence of Stark's less-than-soaring rhetoric, read on the House floor by Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Mo.Obviously a candidate for taxpayer funded prescription drugs. Wait, he's been a Congressman for 30 years - he's already got 'em.
"'Oh, you think you are big enough to make me, you little wimp? Come over here and make me. I dare you,'" Hulshof recited.
According to the stenographer's transcript, the room then broke out in laughter, at which point Stark raged, "You little fruitcake, you little fruitcake. I said you are a fruitcake."
Fortney was previously famous for telling black Health and Human Services Secretary (in the first Bush Administration) Louis Sullivan in 1990 that he was "a disgrace to his race". Uh oh! Sounds like Fortney is diversity challenged!
And what was in the pension bill that got the surly senior citizen's Depends in a twist?
The measure before the committee would make a number of changes to the nation's pension and retirement-saving system, including acceleration of increases in various contribution limits enacted in 2001 and scheduled to be phased in over the next five years. Under it, individuals would be able to contribute an annual maximum to $15,000 to a 401(k) plan and $5,000 to an IRA, beginning next year. People aged 50 and over could contribute even more.You see, individuals saving for their retirement instead of being dependent on government payments doesn't fit in with Democrat plans.
