Congress Just Can't Control Themselves!

I pulled down a copy of the Rescue Bill's table of contents today because I had heard rumors of lots of pork. I was astonished to see what Congress has packed into this emergency legislation needed to bail us out of the financial crisis it appears they have created! Here are a few things I found:

• Authority to Suspend Mark-to-Market Accounting (this will actually fix one of the laws Congress enacted following Enron that has caused the recent collapse of so many companies)
• Energy Project Tax Credits! For renewable energy, electricity generated from marine renewables, wind generation, geothermal heat pumps, steel industry fuel, coal gasification, biomass ethanol plants, biodiesel and renewable diesel, plug-in electric drive cars
• Increased taxes to fund black lung disabilities
• Environmental Tax Credits! For carbon dioxide sequestration, energy-efficient buildings, green buildings and sustainable design projects
• Transportation Fringe Benefits for Bicycle Commuters
• Something called a Carbon Audit of the Tax Code
• Expense Deductions for Elementary & Secondary School Teachers
• Rum Excise Taxes for Puerto Rico & The Virgin Islands
• Economic Development Credit for American Samoa
• Credit for Mine Rescue Training & Equipment
• Indian Employment Credits & Accelerated Depreciation for Business Property on Reservations (sounds like Casino help!)
• Railroad Track Maintenance
• Motorsports Racing Track Assistance
• D.C. Tax Incentives
• Tax Relief for the film industry and those who import toy wooden arrows
  
• Funding to encourage mental health and substance use disorder parity with other health insurance provisions

What do these have to do with getting us out of our current financial crisis?