Congress stuffs war-funding bill with cash for other items

McClatchy Newspapers ^ | Monday, June 22, 2009 | David Lightman and Nancy A. Youssef

[occam's chainsaw]

WASHINGTON — The emergency war funding bill that President Barack Obama is expected to sign soon has mushroomed into a catch-all for many lawmakers' favorite projects.

Obama originally sought $83.5 billion in April, mostly to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. By the time Congress rewrote the bill and passed it last week, the price had jumped to $105.9 billion.

That included money for a new $1 billion "cash for clunkers" auto trade-in program, $2.1 billion for eight C-17 Globemaster aircraft, $5 billion to help the International Monetary Fund and $500 million in earmarks, mostly for Mississippi.

"It's politics as usual in Washington," said Marc Goldwein, the policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan budget watchdog group.

[b4its2late]

Business as usual.

[Sacajaweau]

I thought the war funding was supposed to be included in the total budget under Obama. Apparently not....and even provides an opportunity for the mad spenders to add to our astronomical debt.

[EternalVigilance]

I’d say just wait for these chicken’s to come home to roost, but in all likelihood the wolf at the door is gonna eat ‘em before they ever get the chance.

[FreeSmart]

Yes, “emergency”, as if the spending on war was unexpected

[SueRae]

typical Pelousi move. She said as much lst week and many times before.

[tatsinfla]

ya we will now see if obozo signs it with the pork attached...remember not long ago he said no more!!! lol...we shall see soon...

[OrioleFan]

Refresh my memory about when Obama was going to start eliminating earmarks...

[b4its2late]

I think he signs them before congress passes them since he writes the legislation.

[Wolfie]

That’s what war funding bills are for. Nobody can vote no without being labeled a traitor, so eveybody loads it up with their wish lists.

[ridesthemiles]

I thought I saw footage of The One signing this bill already.....

[occam's chainsaw]

On the campaign trail, candidate Barack Obama said that as president he would go through spending bills, "line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely."

Video

Obama's promise to go after earmarks 'line by line'

[occam's chainsaw]

From BHO's website Change.gov:

Shine Light on Earmarks and Pork Barrel Spending: Obama's Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act will shed light on all earmarks by disclosing the name of the legislator who asked for each earmark, along with a written justification, 72 hours before they can be approved by the full Senate.

Line-by-Line Review of Spending: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will conduct an exhaustive line-by-line review of the federal budget, work to eliminate government programs that are not performing, and demand that new initiatives be selected on the basis of their merits -- not through a political process that rewards lobbyists and campaign donors.

Slash Earmarks: Earmarks grew from $7.8 billion in 1994 to $29 billion in 2006. Barack Obama is committed to returning earmarks to less than $7.8 billion a year, the level they were at before 1994.