War Bill Includes Tempting Projects

Washington Post ^ | 3/20/07 | Jonathan Weisman

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House Democratic leaders are offering billions in federal funds for lawmakers' pet projects large and small to secure enough votes this week to pass an Iraq funding bill that would end the war next year.

So far, the projects -- which range from the reconstruction of New Orleans levees to the building of peanut storehouses in Georgia -- have had little impact on the tally. For a funding bill that establishes tough new readiness standards for deploying combat forces and sets an Aug. 31, 2008, deadline to bring the troops home, votes do not come cheap.

But at least a few Republicans and conservative Democrats who otherwise would vote "no" remain undecided, as they ponder whether they can leave on the table millions of dollars for constituents by opposing the $124 billion war funding bill due for a vote on Thursday.

"She hates the games the Democrats are playing," said Guy Short, chief of staff to Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), a staunch conservative who remains undecided, thanks to billions of dollars in the bill for drought relief and agriculture assistance. "But Representative Musgrave was just down in southeastern Colorado, talking to ranchers and farmers, and they desperately need this assistance."

Democratic leaders say the domestic spending in the bill reflects the pent-up demand from lawmakers who last year could not win funding for programs that had bipartisan support such as disaster assistance.

But in a formal veto statement last night, the White House denounced what it called "excessive and extraneous non-emergency spending." With unusually caustic and combative language, the statement dismissed provisions of the bill as "unconscionable," and said it "would place freedom and democracy in Iraq at grave risk" and "embolden our enemies."

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This is just too funny. The Dems are forced to try to get votes by bribing people with money for pork-barrel junk. All of these non-germane items are being attached to the war bill to entice the undecided members.

I heard George Will on TV sum it up accurately: "What do the Democrats do to get support for the war bill? Turn it into a farm bill!"

And this is after the Dems took both houses of Congress promising to put an end to pork!! Guess that priority's been moved to the backburner...

[RC2]

I've said this before......Democrats only want an end to the war so they can get their hands on some of the tax money being spent on the war. Cut taxes by 50% for everyone and you will cut out the pork. Don't give them all this money so they can just give it to someone else.

[AU72]

One Poll you'll never see the MSM run is:

"Do you support the Democrats attaching non-military spending to Iraq spending authorization bill?".

[traviskicks]

"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress."
- Mark Twain





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[TheKidster]

FINALLY a pork barrel bill President Bush WILL veto!

[ArrogantBustard]

"She hates the games the Democrats are playing," said Guy Short, chief of staff to Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), a staunch conservative who remains undecided, thanks to billions of dollars in the bill for drought relief and agriculture assistance. "But Representative Musgrave was just down in southeastern Colorado, talking to ranchers and farmers, and they desperately need this assistance."

So tell us, Miz Musgrave: Is your honor for sale?

[Element187]

And our Socialist president will not break out his veto pen ... he loves pork projects just as much as the democrats.