HE'S RIGHT ABOUT MISSISSIPPI

Charlie Rangel is a source of candor, that's for sure. That is one of the few things I like about him. And I think his voice is kinda funny.

He's already causing quite a stir about the 110th Congress, saying:

"Mississippi gets more than their fair share back in federal money, but who the hell wants to live in Mississippi?"

His reason for discussing this topic is that he wants to bring more money to New York. As if New York suffers from a lack of funding. I'm all for funding increases in Homeland Security and a need-based system for allocations. And I'm glad the DHS did away with the old system of funding homeland security projects that saw non-populous states get more money per capita than the big five states that realistically need the most protection. But is New York really suffering from a lack of federal dollars?

Mississippi admittedly gets more federal money than it pays in taxes, but in many aspects this is necessary as there is not enough money at the state level and in federal taxes from the state, to fund the same programs that exist around the country.

UPDATE (11/14/06): Rangel apologized and accepted an invite to go to Mississippi. He's a funny old guy.