‘Tis the season. Appropriations season in Congress, once again.
“Negotiators” (primarily two retiring US Senators) announced a framework / “agreement” on $1.7 trillion in appropriations that would direct federal government department spending and the grants/projects they “seed” through its fiscal year (ending September 30th, 2023).
The agreement is over two months into the current federal fiscal year, Congress once again being tardy in doing a basic job of budgeting for the near-future. It has been over twenty years since Congress passed a federal fiscal year budget allocation / directive prior to being in that actual fiscal year.
Montgomery County’s Congress-persons, Jamie Raskin and David Trone, are seeking some dubious funding for local “projects” via “Congressionally Directed Spending Requests”. Also known as “earmarks”. Earmarks were banned for a long time in Congress but have, unfortunately, returned. Ready for some pork barrel politics?
Congressman Raskin is trying to direct $1.3 million from the Federal Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education to Montgomery County via a grant to ‘Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County, Inc in Silver Spring, MD. See screen shot below. The 501c3 has a mission statement that reads “Our mission is to improve the health of vulnerable individuals and families by building partnerships and strengthening systems.” Sounds pretty generic.
It should be noted that Montgomery County is ranked #20 per Census data on the list of counties with the highest median household income in the United States. This doesn’t mean there isn’t real poverty in Montgomery County. But it would seem like something to be addressed via local charity and fundraising, as well as community awareness. Not federal largesse and more debt.
Per Primary Care Coalition’s website feature on “stories”, and in particular a recent story about a migrant from Guatemala, the organization also seems to provide ‘health care coverage’ for various people:
Marta (her real name not disclosed for safety) made her way to Maryland from Guatemala this spring along with her husband, 9-year-old daughter, and one-year old son. Her relatives had lived in the U.S. for six years. They taught her how to navigate systems within the county, like enrolling kids in school with Montgomery County Public Schools [MCPS].
Marta’s nine-year old daughter was quickly enrolled and MCPS connected the family to the Point of Entry Project [PEP]. Celia Juarez, who leads the efforts connecting families to much-needed services, walked me through the family’s journey and the process of securing assistance for them.
“When I first contacted her, I told her that I wanted to help get her kids access to health care. I explained to her what Montgomery Cares and Care For Kids is [health care coverage for adults and children without insurance, and administered by the Primary Care Coalition],” Juarez said.
Congressman David Trone’s most interesting earmark is for $1 million to ‘Chinese Culture and Community Service Center, Inc.”. See screen show below:
CCACC says its vision is to be “a vibrant organization serving, strengthening, and celebrating the Chinese American community.”
It is unclear at this time what “facilities and equipment” are to be procured via $1 million in taxpayer (and future taxpayer) funds by the nonprofit.
It also appears that County Executive Mr. Elrich may secure his federal largesse ($3 million currently earmarked for FY 2023 to Rockville) for his hyped “White Flint Revitalization” project. The Silicon Vallery of “Health Computing”, taxpayers have been told. It’ll pay for itself! Or something.
‘Tis indeed the season of gifting.
