Military bill delay raises (Ted) Stevens’ ire

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ^ | November 11, 2007 | R.A. Dillon

[Clintonfatigued]

U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, blasted Democrats last week for blocking an effort to add $70 billion to the military spending bill for the war in Iraq.

Congress sent President Bush a $471 billion Defense Department spending bill on Thursday. But Democrats rejected Republican attempts to tack on so-called “bridge” funding to pay for operations overseas.

The additional funds would cover operations in Iraq and Afghanistan until Congress responded to President Bush’s request for $196 billion in supplemental war funding.

A continuing resolution providing temporary funding for all government agencies through Dec. 14 was attached the defense appropriation bill. Congress must approve the continuing resolution before Nov. 16 to avoid a government shutdown.

Stevens, 83, warned Democratic leaders he would use procedural methods to block the continuing resolution if it did not include the stop-gap measure for the military.

“You’re not going home (for the Thanksgiving holiday) as long as I’m here without a bridge fund,” he said early in the week.

[Clintonfatigued]

I don’t know what is meant by “bridge fund,” but this shows taht Stevens’ effectiveness is waning.

[trumandogz]

Stevens and Robert Byrd need to go to a retirement home.

[plain talk]

But Democrats rejected Republican attempts to tack on so-called “bridge” funding to pay for operations overseas

Interesting choice of words. My first assumption was that this dealt with funding for the bridge to nowhere.

[Don Corleone]

But Democrats rejected Republican attempts to tack on so-called “bridge” funding to pay for operations overseas.

Bridge Funding being mentioned in Alaska....that's a no....no.

[org.whodat]

U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska

Man needs to retire, spend a night are two in his stolen mansion and then go to jail.

[RightWhale]

That might be one of those Freudian slips like Ted Kennedy testifying about waterboarding. Stevens has used the bridge metaphor before so it might not be psychological. He’s still one of the brighter lights.

[FMFreeper]

“You’re not going home (for the Thanksgiving holiday) as long as I’m here without a bridge fund,” he said early in the week.

Same thing Stevens says every year.

[thackney]

Man needs to retire, spend a night are two in his stolen mansion and then go to jail.

Stolen may be correct description but at 2,471 square feet mansion is quite a stretch.

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/story/9181339p-9097204c.html

[RightWhale]

Warm-up shack.