Jason Smith has Another Birthday

 

by Pa Rock

Missouri Voter

Today is birthday #46 for my GOP Congressman Jason Smith (MO 08) who represents the residents of south central and southeast Missouri - or at least the ones who watch Fox News programming where Jason maintains a near-constant presence.   Jason won a special election to Congress in June of 2013 and has been snugly ensconced there for more than thirteen years.  With Mr. Smith's free quality government health care and good Missouri genes, he could likely expect to stay in his securely red seat at the government trough for another fifty years.

Jason has politicked hard in the US House of Representatives and has been rewarded with the chairmanship of the powerful House Ways and Means tax writing committee, a position once held by the late Arkansas Congressman Wilbur Mills.  Jason is very proud of this fine achievement and never fails to mention it multiple times in each edition of his weekly email newsletter.  

This week Jason also sent out a large four-page, multi-colored paper newsletter on the public dime to many of his constituents.  The all caps headline across the top of page one reads "SMITH PASSES LARGEST TAX CUT IN AMERICAN HISTORY."  There is no word yet as to whether he sprained his arm while patting himself on the back or not.  Most people in rural Missouri tend to be a little more subdued in their bragging.

The quality newsletter featured a photo of Jason at a meeting sitting between House Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance - along with a shot of the back of Donald Trump's head - as well as three - count 'em, THREE - photos of the rural Missouri congressman with Melania Trump!

Jason is tight with the Trumps, yes siree, buddy, he is, yet somehow he didn't seem to make it onto the by-invitation-only list for the UFC match on our White House lawn last Sunday night (what some social media commentators are referring to as "Donald Trump's Big Gay Pride Event").

One thing I strongly admire about my congressman is his reluctance to "get comfortable" in Washington, DC.  Rep. Smith, a lifelong bachelor, made it clear early on that would never happen.  He is one of several congressmen who sleep in their offices when Congress is in session.  (Roughly 150 nights per year.). It's a bargain - the "rent" is free and the IRS does not regard it as a work perk for which ordinary humans would have to pay income tax.  So Jason is very lucky when ti comes to rent and tax breaks!   (It's reassuring to know that the man responsible for writing tax law can himself benefit from those laws, isn't it?)  Jason has said on multiple occasions that the reason he sleeps in his office is to keep from getting "too comfortable" in Washington, DC, but after more that 13 years one can assume that he has adapted well to his office couch and sleeps the sleep of the just and righteous.

Happy birthday, Jason.  May your next forty-six be as personally rewarding as your first forty-six have been!