You assume that the entire amount of that budget is spent on erstwhile things that keep you safe at night. $800 toilet seats, $1,200 hammers........................
Hook, line, and sinker.
Posted on 12/12/2007 3:11:34 PM PST by SmithL
WASHINGTON, (AP) -- The House passed a defense policy bill on Wednesday that would authorize $696 billion in military programs, including $189 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The measure, which covers the budget year that began Oct. 1, does not send money to the Pentagon. But it is considered a crucial policy measure because it guides companion spending legislation and dictates the acquisition and management of weapons programs.
The Senate intended to follow suit this week and send the bill to President Bush, who is expected to sign it. The House vote was 370-49.
"It's good for our troops, good for our families," said Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, which wrote the bill. "It will help improve readiness for our armed forces and bring new oversight to the Department of Defense in areas where oversight was sorely needed in the past."
The legislation includes a 3.5 percent pay raise authorized for uniformed service personnel and a guarantee that combat veterans receive swift health evaluations. It also would block fee increases proposed as part of the military's Tricare health care system.
The bill has several provisions intended to increase the oversight of contractors and the rebuilding of Iraq and Afghanistan. More specifically, it would require that private security contractors working in a war zone comply with military regulations and orders issued by commanders.
It would establish an auditing system to oversee reconstruction contracts in Afghanistan that would be modeled after the special watchdog for Iraq reconstruction.
Final action on the bill comes as Democrats struggle for a way to pay for combat operations overseas without appearing to support Bush's policies in Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
$.7 Trillion dollars, spending in Washington will never, ever, ever be reigned in and controlled.
Better headline, “Bush Defeats Dems Again.”
To paraphrase the Founders, “Trillions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.” I have no problem spending money so that whackos don’t kill me or my family.
While I am all for national defense, I am NOT for national bankruptcy! This is TOO MUCH! A half a trillion dollars??!! That’s $2,000 per American! We don’t need to spend that to properly defend this nation.
I can’t wait to see the reactions in DUmmieland. The Dems failed again. Bush wins.
Hee Hee!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3099885
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2449415
A couple other juicy topics:
Kucinich booted from Iowa debate
-really good one; the DUmmie hornet nest is buzzing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3099155
On trying not to offend Christian fundamentalists.
-secular humanists complain
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2454682
It not the total amount spent but the total amount spent vis via the whole pot that counts
It is a matter of perspective and over all income. For the USA this is no big strain to spend on Defense.
To put it in terms you might understand, For you spending $100,000 is an proably an unbearable amount of spending, for Bill Gates it’s pocket change. Same here for the USA.
And I agree that we should take better care of our soldiers then we take care of people whose only claim to being an American is that they were born here.
Without our soldiers we are nothing!
Your argument assumes that the $14 trillion dollars belongs to the US Government and not to you and me average Joe Q. Citizen. A common misconception these days, that the money in my pocket is not really mine, it's just what the good masters in Washington have deemed me worthy enough to keep.
You assume that the entire amount of that budget is spent on erstwhile things that keep you safe at night. $800 toilet seats, $1,200 hammers........................
Hook, line, and sinker.
Forgot one thing.
I could afford $100,000 too if I could print my own money.
How much should we spend to defend ourselves? Is $2,000 per person the limit? What is our freedom worth? I’m sure every mother, father, husband, wife or child of a service member would like to know how much is “too much”.
Really it is because people look at dollars rather than ratios.
Give me your figure on what your family is worth.
I don’t understand. There is another report on FR about furloughs and Army bases being forced to close:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1938638/posts?page=11#11
A policy bill that does not fund. Great.
Agreed. If I had the choice of my home blasted into fiery pieces and having my family members’ body pieces eventually taken out in body bags, I would gladly pay the $2,000 to be able to live in peace.
GOOD FOR BUSH!
Cause that scenario is likely to happen every other Friday around here huh?????
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