Want another reason the federal government is broke? Nearly $50 million was given to Illinois. From that, Belleville and Collinsville received nearly $3 million. This will pay for expanding the bike trail in Belleville and the next phase of a beautification project in Collinsville. (BND, Feb. 7).

Let's see, $50 million times 50 states equals $250 million (plus or minus). This will be added to the national debt. China will appreciate the increase in interest it receives.

What part of "we're broke" does our Congress not understand?

My mother saved an editorial from the News-Democrat from 2004. In it was listed wasteful spending gathered by Citizens Against Government Waste (www.cagw.org). The second to last paragraph stated:

"In all, Citizens Against Government Waste reports that 9,362 projects were tacked onto 13 appropriations bills in fiscal 2003 at a cost of $22.5 billion. Total pork identified by Citizens Against Government Waste since 1991: $162 billion."

How many pork dollars have been added since that editorial?

Besides cutting pork spending, they should cut tax breaks (such as the ones sneaked into the January tax reform bill).

Also it seems like anyone can become a non-profit -- that's more loss of taxes.

I hope our Congress starts to look with both eyes open -- not squinting out of the left or right eye. That way, maybe, they can look at all sides of an issue and govern for the good of the country and its citizens.

Virginia Cecil

Belleville