I like to think that the cost estimates we publish on WashingtonWatch.com give people a little something they can use to figure out what matters in the world of Washington, D.C.

And, y’know, it’s rational to ignore a bill that doesn’t cost much, because there are bills that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars per family which might be more appropriate to focus on.

Then again, the little bills that cost anywhere from a penny to a dollar come through again and again and again - and over time all that spending adds up.

Anyway, writing here in the last couple of posts, I’ve been struck by the “value” I put on two different bills that are both in the thirty-cent range.

Writing about Hurricane Katrina, I pointed out the passage of a bill to help with student aid programs for victims of Hurricane Katrina. No guarantee that it’s going to do any good, but it seems like $.38 is a small amount in context.

Then there’s Senator McCain’s proposal to regulate boxing. That $.32 seems like a big waste to me. I don’t watch boxing. I don’t care about boxing. I’ve never boxed - except once, very badly, in grade school (and that was just for pride/insecurity).

So, where do you want your thirty cents going?