Senate must address more pressing issues

The United States Senate recently adjourned its session, but not before deciding on several "important" issues on which to spend out money.

These issues included such expenditures as a $250,000 study on caffeinated chewing gum and the funding of a $1.1 million program for manure handling/disposal in Starkville, Miss.

Meanwhile, the Senate rejected measures such as a minimum wage increase, a patient's bill of rights, and tax breaks to pay for school building renovations.

It seems legislators are being paid by taxpayers to find convenient ways in which to waste tax dollars. The system also works to the disadvantage of taxpayers when important measures are rejected for budget reasons. To note that this money is going to handle manure and gum in infuriating.

This situation occurs because politicians are not effectively held responsible for their decisions. Legislative devices such as "sight unseen" voting enable legislators to make decisions anonymously, without being properly held accountable.

Politicians need to be held responsible for their actions.