Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Father and two daughters Jeffery M Leving
    Father’s Fight to Protect his Abused and Badly Beaten Daughters Dads' Rights
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations Illinois Legislature
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” Crime
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs Business
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago Cook County
  • On Saturday, October 4th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted the Fifth Annual 16th District Dia de los Muertos Resource Fair at his district office. Partnering with Commissioner Aguilar were the Village of Lyons, Lyons School District 103, Teamsters Local 777, and Rincon Family Services.
    Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Family Resource Fair  Cook County
  • Jesse Jackson Jr July 2025
    Jesse Jackson Jr. Launches Candidacy for Congress Civil Rights
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to Celebrate Diwali by Recognizing Indian Community Leaders Cook County
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Statement of US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement Operations Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes Cook County
  • Road construction cement truck. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Hastings: $123 million in IDOT projects will improve South Suburban roads through collaboration with local leaders construction
  • Source: Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
    Ratepayers will lose in the rush to approve battery storage electricity legislation in Springfield Business
  • Joyful reunion photo courtesy of Jeffery M. Leving & Assc law firm
    Leving Team Prevented a Father’s Wrongful Separation from His Child Dads' Rights
  • CTF Illinois Orland Park, 18230 Orland Pkwy, Orland Park, IL 60467
    Hastings, Giannoulias announce opening of temporary driver services facility in Orland Park Baby Boomers
  • Emagine Theater Pink popcorn
    Popcorn with a purpose: Emagine Theatres brings back Pink Caramel Corn to support Pink Fund during Breast Cancer Awareness Month Business
The U.S. Congress, west view, courtesy of Wikipedia

Congress cares more about foreign interests than American interests

Posted on October 18, 2021October 19, 2021 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Congress cares more about foreign interests than American interests
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Congress cares more about foreign interests than American interests

When President Biden introduced an infrastructure bill to help the American people and a budget to keep government operating and underwrite social programs, Congress found itself divided, not just on the Republican-Democrat partisan divide but among Democrats, too. Far Left Democrats sought to use their muscle to force changes in the bill. But when the debate and delays threatened to derail a bill to give a foreign country $1 billion for a military missile intercept system, they didn’t hesitate to come together and vote 424 to 11 to pass it. In fact they took it out of the bigger spending plan so the foreign country would not have to go through the experience that the American people were going through.

By Ray Hanania

Back in August, President Joe Biden introduced a $1 trillion infrastructure bill and a $3.5 trillion budget package that would advance many of the programs embraced by the Democrats.

It included a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan and a broader spending plan to fund programs favored by the Democrats.

The plan would also fund the U.S. Government.

By early September, it became clear the Republicans were not going to easily support it and several key Democrats were concerned about some of the big spending provisions.

So much of the money would go to help bolster welfare, provide money to people who have decided not to return to work and rely on government support, and would bolster social service programs. Most of the beneficiaries, based on a demographic analysis, would go to voters in Democrat controlled regions.

The U.S. Congress, west view, courtesy of Wikipedia
The U.S. Congress, west view, courtesy of Wikipedia

For Biden, that was important.

But the huge spending bills got bogged down in partisan debate and internal bickering. So, on Sept. 7, Biden was forced to introduce a $3.5 billion “stopgap” funding bill to prevent a shutdown of the government as the bigger bills slogged their way through the House and the Senate.

There was no timetable and back then, many feared the fight could last through the Fall.

But there was one problem. The bill included a $1 billion giveaway to a specific foreign country. I’m not going to name that country, because if I do, people will start calling me all kinds of names, like “anti-Semitic” or worse.

So, the friends of this foreign country — Democrats and Republicans — quickly moved to extract that $1 billion from the bigger bill so it could be voted on separately and passed without delay.

That $1 billion spending bill did pass, with 424 in the Houses voting yes, nine voting no and two too afraid to take a stand.

The point is the interests of the American people often are pushed aside for the interests of foreign countries with powerful and influential lobbying PACs. Members of Congress don’t mind long arguments over how to support the American people because they can blame each other.

But the budget battle delay, which only recently was cleared up, would have also jeopardized that one foreign country’s needs. Clearly, not many members of Congress wanted to do that.

This particular foreign country has a huge PAC network, one of the nation’s largest, that funnels hundreds of millions of dollars into their campaign coffers.

Your representatives don’t want to lose that cash. If they can take $1 billion from the hardworking taxpayers like you and me, rather than delay money for this particular country, they don’t mind. Eventually, the interests of the American people will fall into place, even if it is costly and painful.

I left out the name of this foreign country intentionally to help you see past the viciousness of its advocates who attack anyone who questions what happened. Leaving that country’s name out of the discussion allows you to, maybe, see the argument for what it really is.

The “powerful” always get their cut of the pie first, and apparently, American taxpayers are not really that powerful. The pie is made up of your tax dollars, money most of you work hard to make and pay to government in Federal taxes every year. If you don’t pay your Federal Taxes, the punishment is punitive and extreme. In addition to having to repay what you owe, you also must pay fines and fast growing interest penalties tripling the total that has to be repaid.

There is no consideration for you, the hardworking American citizen, like there often is for foreign countries. Members of the House and the Senate need your money to hand out to the people who channel the hundreds of millions into their campaign coffers, so that they can get re-elected.

There used to be a principle in American politics. “Good government is good politics.” That means if you provided the services the taxpayers need, you will always get re-elected. Remember that term “good government?” It doesn’t exist any more.

In these days of sleazy politics, foreign PAC pressures and corruption swelling in the House and the Senate, politicians have learned that money is more important. It helps them pull the wool over your eyes.

So, that little foreign country that has a powerful funding PAC network in tow becomes their number one priority, a priority that is so far above you that you don’t even realize how you are getting screwed.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter and political columnist. His mainstream political columns are published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group in the Des Plaines Valley News, Southwest News-Herald, The Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers. His Middle East columns are published in the Arab News. For more information on Ray Hanania visit www.Hanania.com or email him at [email protected].)

 

SUBSCRIBE BELOW

Subscribe to Ray's columns

Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

* indicates required field.

 

Select Email Format


Two Guys on Politics podcast with Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania www.TwoGuysonPoliticsa.com

 

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Father’s Fight to Protect his Abused and Badly Beaten Daughters - October 9, 2025
  • Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations - October 8, 2025
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” - October 8, 2025
NPV: 26
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Commentary, Federal, Government, National, Opinion, Politics Tags:$1 billion, Congress, foreign country, infrastructure, iron dome, Israel, partisan divisions, President Joe Biden, U.S. House, U.S. Senate

Post navigation

Previous Post: Nardella selected for National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
Next Post: Orland Park Police Remind All to Plan for a Sober Ride This Halloween

Related Posts

  • Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke and his wife. Support his family on his GoFundMe Page at https://www.gofundme.com/mdb4be
    Van Dyke deserves leniency not race persecution Blogger
  • Chicagos first minority and Woman Mayor Jane M. Byrne is often ignored by the mainstream media. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Remembering Great Chicago Mayors, not just one Blogger
  • Lori Lightfoot speaking at Police Accountability Task Force hearing in 2016. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Hanania joins podcaster Marc Sims on Chicago and National politics Commentary
  • 03-05-20 Column on Census and Gov Pritzker wasting money
    Are Census funds to improve count or politics? Blogger
  • A letter from a reader on the Brannigan controversy Opinion
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has hosted a display of Christmas Trees from around the world each year since 2003. Photo courtesy of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Have we lost our family focus this holiday season? Baby Boomers

More Related Articles

President Larry Dominick led the push to get FEMA to approve funding for Cicero flood victims. President Dominick speaks at a FEMA and County Emergency Management press conference Wednesday July 26, 2023 at Morton College called to inform residents of that effort. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero Cicero President leads successful push to get FEMA to approve flood disaster assistance to residents Baby Boomers
Orland Township Summer Picnic 2023 Orland Township Youth Commission Summer Picnic Education
Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady, with the help of students from Andrew and Sandburg high schools, load prepared meals into Township Food Pantry clients’ vehicles. The prepared meals were from the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s meal production program and distributed to gauge need and interest in the Orland Township community. Photo courtesy of Orland Township Orland Township Distributes Frozen, Prepared Meals to Food Pantry Clients Cook County
Dads' Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving. Specializing in Fathers' Rights, Family Law, Child custody, divorce proceedings Kids of divorce at risk over vaccine litigation Blogger
Cook County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit and the US Marshals Great Lakes Regional Task Force arrested 26-year-old Bradley Pitts wanted for stabbing three people in a Las Vegas hotel parking lot. Mugshot courtesy of Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart Cook County Sheriff Dart says suspect in Las Vegas stabbings apprehended Cook County
Orland Township sign Orland Township “Off to the Races” Baby Boomers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Children of divorce caught in the middle during the holidays
    August 27, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    We Can Help You Understand Your Property Taxes—In Nearly Any Language
    August 8, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Father and two daughters Jeffery M Leving
    Father’s Fight to Protect his Abused and Badly Beaten Daughters
    October 9, 2025
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations
    October 8, 2025
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz”
    October 8, 2025
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs
    October 8, 2025
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago
    October 8, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme