Last week Congressman Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) sent a letter to U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) asking him and U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to support the Republican leadership’s moratorium on earmarks. You can read Rehberg’s letter HERE.

Baucus responded. Surprisingly, he responded promptly, too. Montana constituents would love to get a response to their concerns from Baucus this quickly as many have to wait months to get a written response and sometimes they don’t even receive a reply.

Baucus also sent his response to the Montana media. You can read his full response HERE.

As with many politicians, the Baucus response to Rehberg was wordy. He could have just said, “Hell no” but that’s not the method of operation for the “powerful” Finance Committee Chairman – he even provided a pie chart.

Baucus is not up for re-election until 2014 (if he runs again) so he can be a little egotistical in his views about the out-of-control Federal spending.

Baucus does not understand that it is the spending – it’s the spending that has gotten the country in so much trouble. Many projects are worthwhile – just as it would be worthwhile for me to get a new 60-inch television, but I don’t want to use a credit card. Congress should do the same.

Now we wait to see if Senator Tester responds. Will Tester side with Baucus (his mentor) and go against President Obama (who said we can’t afford earmarks) and against Rehberg – a person who is already ahead of him by a couple of points in a recent poll and against the will of most Americans?

Max did not even wish Denny a Happy Thanksgiving in his response and that’s a shame.

Note to my readers:

I hope all my readers have a very blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends. Please take a moment to say a prayer for all our military personnel who are away from their loved ones this holiday season and for their families who will celebrate Thanksgiving without them.