Posted on 12/26/2007 10:04:03 AM PST by NormsRevenge
CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush on Wednesday signed a $555 billion bill that funds the Iraq war well into next year and keeps government agencies running through next September.
Bush's signature on the massive spending bill capped a long-running battle with the Democratic-run Congress as he left boarded Air Force One to fly from his Maryland mountaintop retreat and flew to his Texas ranch here to see in the new year.
Bush had deep reservations about special "earmark" spending in the bill, but signed it into law nevertheless.
"The omnibus (bill) funds the government at responsible levels that the president proposed without raising taxes," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel told reporters traveling to Texas with Bush.
Stanzel said that although he signed the bill, Bush continues to be "disappointed with Congress' addiction to earmarks."
"And soon the president will outline his fiscal year 2009 budget proposal," the spokesman added, "which will hold the line on spending, keep taxes low and continue us on the path to a balanced budget."
Bush, who had used his veto power to remain relevant in the debate with Democrats on national spending priorities, had agreed to sign the measure, which includes $70 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, after winning concessions on Iraq and other budget items. The bill bankrolls 14 Cabinet departments and federal agencies and funds foreign aid for the budget year that began on Oct. 1.
Bush and his Senate GOP allies forced the Iraq money upon anti-war Democrats as the price for permitting the year-end budget deal to pass and be signed.
Democrats tried to use war spending legislation to force a change in Bush's Iraq policy, chiefly by setting a withdrawal goal with dates such as Dec. 15, 2009. But Bush and Republicans held a powerful hand. They knew Democrats would not let money lapse for troops overseas. That allowed a Bush veto in May and GOP stalling tactics to determine the outcome.
On the domestic budget, Bush's GOP allies were divided over whether the overall spending bill was a victory for their party in the long fight with Democrats over agency budgets.
Conservatives and outside watchdog groups criticized the bill for having about $28 billion in domestic spending that topped Bush's budget and was paid for by a combination of "emergency" spending, transfers from the defense budget and other maneuvers.
Bush complained about more than 900 "special interest" earmarks that he had found in the bill.
But when asked Wednesday whether the president had included any kind of accompanying statement with the signed legislation, Stanzel said that one would be forthcoming, noting that Bush already had asked for options the White House might have to abrogate some or a large degree of that spending.
"So no decisions have been made on that front," Stanzel added, "but certainly as you noted in the president's press conference last week, he talked about directing the OMB director, Jim Nussle, to look at ways — or look at avenues by which the federal government can address those earmarks."
"The signing statement will — or the statement by the president, rather, will note out dissatisfaction with continued addiction to earmarks," Stanzel said.
If Jim Nussle does his job, he should be able to give a press conference and state how much money went to which senators pet pork project - the ones running next year for their jobs!
For shame, Mr. President. For shame.
Good 'ol AP. SOS.
BTW, Bush wins ...again.
That’s it! I’m buying a Bush Sucks bumper sticker.
BTW, Bush wins, the country loses ...again.
He just may be as dumb as the libs say if he is just finding out about this now
The nature of politics. He needed his Iraq money and had to accept the pork along with it.
Best to not earmark and let the locals parcel out the loot to their cronies as they see fit.
No, he could have vetoed and forced the issue with Dems. He didn't have to do it. Dems were on the ropes. Bush blinked. He caved. Now all he does is cry in meaningless statements. He also caved in the destructive energy bill.
“Bush complained about more than 900 “special interest” earmarks that he had found in the bill.”
I believe the actual number was 9,000 ... not 900.
But its not like anyone in DC is ever going to do anything about any of this pork spending. We’ll have to fire them before any progress at all is made.
I guess it all depends on what you consider to be 'loses'. eh?
Deep Reservations, just not deep-rooted enough in Reagan type principles.
Pious Hillary has called abortion a ‘tragic choice’ but still benefits from it and advocates it....
He already vetoed the last spending bill to force the the Democrats to remove the Iraq withdrawal deadline. He had enough political ammo to shoot down one thing, but not two.
Agree on the energy bill though.
No doubt that the surge will allow Dubya to enjoy relative peace and quiet in his last year in office.
Year after year, the Democrats provided him countless opportunities to engage them. He was more like his dad in that regard, which partially explains his success as Governor. Texas is a conservative state, with most Democrats being the "blue dog" type.
Gee...only 900 earmarks?
I guess that’s progress.....
Bush did not win and neither did America. This bill repealed any and all funding for border security fencing. That means that bill the Bush signed into law to appease the base before the 2006 elections was a lie.
My suspicion is that the 900 number is a typo..
earlier reports had anywhere from 9 to 11 thousand earmarks were stuck to the bill.
or the 900 number could be the most obvious or blatant earmarks,, that’s if such a standard exists as to what is blatant..
How about the troops and the WOT? Unimportant? The border fence wasn’t going to be built anyway, the rats and RINO’s would see to that.
We’re going to need a real republican congress AND a republican pres. before anything gets done on that score OR earmarks.
The reality is the rats have to live with another loss on Iraq and the WOT. I’ll take that going into ‘08.
...or “plausible denial” ...
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