Constitutional Fix to Overspending | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary

Constitutional Fix to Overspending | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Tea Party members are going to be very unhappy. Many of the new members of the House and Senate that the Tea Party helped elect are already becoming part of the political class, as evidenced by their votes for continued farm subsidies, refusals to put reasonable limits on the growth of the food-stamp program, support for unaccountable international organizations, and on and on. Members of Congress vote for unjustified spending because they think the recipients will reward them with campaign contributions and praise while the majority of the electorate will never notice."

"The answer is to make it more difficult for the political class to spend and tax as much as it does but not make it so restrictive that government cannot spend sufficient funds on what is generally believed to be a constitutional and appropriate function of government. This can be accomplished best by having a constitutional amendment that requires both houses of Congress to pass all tax and spending bills with a supermajority — two-thirds of each chamber might be appropriate.

There already are many supermajority requirements, such as overrides of vetoes, so no new ground is being broken. In practice, what this would mean is that the special interests who want more spending or taxing will have a more difficult time rounding up the required numbers of votes, which means they will fail more often — all to the good. The supermajority requirement is not a panacea but will make it easier to reduce excessive spending and destructive deficits."

Hoarding cited in Pa. seizure of 185 Chihuahuas | Fox News

Hoarding cited in Pa. seizure of 185 Chihuahuas | Fox News: "Veterinarians who checked the Chihuahuas — plus two other dogs that were also removed from the residence — found no serious health issues, only minor eye, teeth and skin problems.

The dogs wagged their tails when visitors approached their crates and apparently came from a loving home, officials said.

"The owners were telling us their names as we were tagging them," said Nicole Bucher, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Agriculture.

The dogs in the freezer, which included adults and puppies, apparently died of natural causes and the owners said they planned to cremate them, Bucher said.

"They weren't killed," she said."

So the dogs were taken care of -- there were just too many?

Gov't acknowledges one-time surveillance problem | Fox News

Gov't acknowledges one-time surveillance problem | Fox News: "the Obama administration acknowledged Friday that the government's surveillance efforts have exceeded legal limits on at least one occasion."

"Will the response be just? Will it be the same as if a private person made the same admission?"

Obama, Romney views have evolved toward gun rights | Fox News

Obama, Romney views have evolved toward gun rights | Fox News: "As they expressed shock and sorrow over the bloodshed at a Colorado movie theater, neither [President Barack Obama nor Republican challenger Mitt Romney] suggested that tougher gun control could make a difference, a notion that has faded from political debate."

Free Speech Codes on Campus: Political correctness run amok? | Fox News

Free Speech Codes on Campus: Political correctness run amok? | Fox News: " One stipulation in the code requires that students may only "express opinions" within a free speech zone"

"if you want to tell your friend that you think it's hot outside, you have to go to the zone to do it"

"IUS's code also requires university approval for acts of 'expressed opinions' by submitting an application at least five days in advance.

But the school defended the speech code, expressing concern the exercise of First Amendment rights outside designated zones could disrupt others' pursuit of an education."