John -- For the sake of those who may not know, what you are writing about and what Mr. Issa is revealing is the "Chicago Way" come to the White House. In Illinois, especially in Chicago, there is an old saying, "if you want to slide, you gotta grease." News people call it "pay to play". Federal prosecutors call it bribery. Chicago is the place where Obama got his start as a 'community organizer', got his start in State politics under the tutelage of Emil Jones, former President of the Illinois State Senate. He learned the "Chicago Way" and how one hand washes the other from convicted influence peddler and fund raiser, Tony Rezko. He learned how to secure large campaign contributions in return for favors to his investors.

When union bosses get paid the same hourly rate as the rank and file, I will start believing their propaganda about 'brotherhood'. When unions start basing their contributions to political parties and campaigns on the percentage of the votes of the members I will have respect for their integrity.

Not in the world of Obama and his liberal followers. Regardless of skill, education, training, experience, dedication, perseverence, hard work and willngness to take a risk the libs feel that everyone's outcome should be exactly the same. After all, "All animals are created equal", that is until one of those in charge changes the rule in the middle of the night to read "Some animals are more equal than others." Those in charge would of course include elected officials and union bosses.

Listen lib, if Henry Ford could have made more money by having his cars built in another country he would have done it in a minute, because he wasn't a stupid businessman. If American workers are so keen on keeping their wages high, why do they buy products made outside the U.S. ? The American consumer is just like the American businessman. He/she will shop for the best price regardless of where it's made, feeling no obligation to pay more for a product that will keep his fellow American worker employed. The goal and obligation of any company is to make money, not to hire people. Government sees it the other way. That's why it is failing, in debt and going broke.

Show me a state where union membership is required for certain jobs and I'll show you a state where the legislators have been paid off by those unions with votes and big campaign contributions and the taxpayers were sold out. Every state should be a right to work state. I live in Illinois where political sell outs are an art form. The state allows union bosses who work as little as one day in a state job to be put on a state pension based on their union salaries. These union bosses also get their union pensions as well. The union bosses get an extra $100,000 or more annuall in pension money at the expense of the taxpayers; they in turn deliver the union vote and millions in campaign contributions to the pols who rigged this deal.

How can a country balance a budget when a budget isn't put in place? It has been three and a-half years since Obama took office and there has been no budget put in place since 1/1/09. This is the height of fiscal irresponsibility. So for the past three and a-half years we must listen to how the Republicans want to shut down the government when the fight to keep from increasing the debt ceiling. We need a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution; we need a written and approved budget and we need substantial and real cuts in government spending (not cuts in the amount of increased spending). Where? Departments of Education, Energy, Transportation, Health and Human Services and Defense.

Blair -- I like your suggestions. My own personal view is that Senators and Congressmen should be paid only a salary, but no health benefits and no pension. I also believe strongly in term limits, no more than one term in the Senate and no more than three terms in the House. I especially favor the elimination of federal employee unions as well as eliminating state and local government employee unions. If we don't need a union for our Armed forces, we certainly don't need them for any government employees.

DON'T SAY "WE". I VOTED FOR THE OTHER GUY.

There was once an infamous Chicago alderman who once chided one of his freshman colleagues who complained about his insufficient salary. The alderman told the younger man, "If you can't steal enough to support yourself, you don't belong here." With what elected officials get in graft, perks, speaking fees and inside information they have access to from lobbyists while in office and later, we don't need to give them a salary, benefits or a pension.

Sodom and Gomorrah was a holy city compared to the House and Senate.