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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

House writes the bills

Once again, Chicken Little conservative Republicans are strutting their stuff. Unfortunately, they apparently haven’t either read the Constitution or graduated from high school civics classes. All revenue bills, including taxes and spending authorizations, have to start in the House of Representatives.

Fact: President Barack Obama can’t do a darned thing about it (just like he can’t do anything about gas prices); the Senate Democrats can’t do a thing about it. House Speaker John Boehner and his cronies, including our own Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, need to do their jobs and come up with legislation that will take care of the financial woes instead of blaming the predicament on others.

Obama can have grand ideas, but he can’t spend a nickel unless the House appropriates the money. So, to those Republicans who are pulling a reverse Robin Hood by taking from the middle class and giving to the rich, as John of Orange said earlier this week, get off your butt and do your jobs.

Maybe the first ones who should lose their jobs are the current Congress because they aren’t doing their jobs in the first place.

Ed Simpson

Spokane Valley

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