Who says Congress can't get serious about making meaningful spending cuts? House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi have just announced a plan to cut $5 million a year -- yes, that's right, $5 million; I can hear you gasping out there -- by eliminating a program that has been in existence for more than 200 years. The House page program will be no more, and the cost savings isn't the only reason:
In their statement, the leaders noted the pages, who used to deliver documents around the Capitol complex, are rarely used anymore because most documents are transmitted electronicallly.
Come on, now. The main point isn't to get documents delivered or an any other specific task done. It's to expose young people to the workings of government and keep a fresh crop of people interested in public service. It shouldn't be difficult to find something for 70 high school kids a semester to do that would also benefit the House members.
On the other hand, perhaps removing those young people from exposure to members of Congress would be in the best interest of their health and well-being. Even the ones who haven't faced unwanted and illegal sexual advances have been given a skewed vision of the way the world works that will undoubtedly mar them for life.
