Whether it’s the current mayor Vincent Gray (I wasn’t a Fenty fan either) or the city council, this city truly is suffering from a crisis in governance. The Washington Times of all papers (I don’t read the conservative press) has done an investigation which has found that members of the city council abuse a fund that’s supposed to be used to help people in need.

A Washington Times review of 10,000 payments totaling $3.3 million since 2004 shows that just 3 percent or $84,000 has gone to power and water bills, presumably for needy constituents, and $37,000 for phone bills. More — $133,000 — has been spent at pro sporting events.

Members also spent about $22,000 for delivery of bottled water and wrote $63,000 in checks to themselves, reimbursing themselves for meals with constituents and undisclosed other expenses from the so-called constituent services funds. Lawmakers raise money for the accounts from businesses and unions.

There are some serious reforms needed as one council member Tommy Wells has suggested.

Just look at what Yvette Alexander is doing -

Ward 7 Democrat Yvette Alexander, who represents some of the city’s poorest and lashed out against those who suggested eliminating the funds, saying the move would deprive needy residents, has used about $6,000 assisting impoverished constituents including $1,200 on gift cards — 4 percent of the $141,000 she has spent, The Times analysis found. Some $6,000 more was donated to assorted charities at fundraisers, while the remainder went toward expenses like consultants’ fees, desserts, catering, advertising and office costs.

Tell me America are you proud of yourself? You elected Republicans in 2010 that were out to gut everything. Here in DC they’ve seemed to take what the congressional and local Republicans are doing to heart.

Here in Washington, city services are already so strained before the proposed cuts that even families with young children seeking emergency shelter are routinely turned away, and have often been given instead bus tokens to ride the buses all night with their toddlers and infants.

So DC government what you’re telling me is that your proposed budget cuts which severely target the poor and low income (some could be the “working” poor) is what you truly believe to be necessary? You are OK with having homeless people ride busses all night because there will be no funding for homeless shelters and other services right?

The Mayor’s proposed budget would essentially close down all shelters for everyone except when the weather falls below freezing. The mayor’s justification? " In some quarters, we have created a culture of dependency that does not encourage residents to take control of their lives," he declared in a speech nonetheless proclaiming a vision of a compassionate "One City" uniting all.

Mayor Gray you’re fine with people sleeping on the street I see. I applaud you getting arrested with the other members of the city council a month or so ago, but this budget wipes away all the good will you’ve engendered with the public.

Would you be willing to pay a little bit more in taxes to stop this nonsense?

As the Washington City Paper reported: "The District came in first in costs in relation to both the number of city residents and the number of council seats. The council has a total budget of $19,434,000, including employee benefits–that averages out to $1,494,923 per seat, and $32.41 per resident." But they don’t seem to mind kicking a few thousand people from shelters or cutting emergency assistance for the low-income disabled in order to preserve virtually all of their own perks — and keep costs down for the city’s richest citizens.

As a resident of Arlington, Virginia I’d be willing to pay some sort of commuter tax from my wages if it would help the situation. The higher income residents of the District of Columbia are not paying their fair share period and the DC city council is a sham.

"In a budget that makes very deep cuts, there was more passion for keeping parking cheap and for keeping taxes on the wealthy low than anything for keeping people off the street and from going hungry."

When you look at it we’re not really talking about a major increase in taxes at all.

For the price of a cup of coffee, you can save children’s’ lives. That is the increased cost in taxes per week, $1.80, that a DC resident making $125,000 would pay if their tax rate went from 8.5% to 9%. For the price of a latte, you can retain essential services to DC’s children. That is the cost in taxes per day, $3.60, that a DC resident making $350,000 would pay if their tax rate went from 8.5% to 9.5%.