Congress Chooses Pork Over Bullets
Posted By Chuck Muth 5-24-06
“It appears that the House and Senate have agreed that the supplemental emergency spending bill will not exceed the amount requested by the President in an effort to avoid a veto,” writes a Hill staffer to me this morning.
“What they have NOT agreed to is removing the earmarks included in the Senate bill. Therefore, any earmarks agreed to by the conference will come at the expense of our fighting men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, or Katrina reconstruction efforts in the Gulf Coast. This once again underscores how Congress’ addiction to pork not only undermines our nation’s economic security, but also our international security.”
This is outrageous.
First, there shouldn’t even BE an “emergency” spending bill for Katrina relief and the War on Terror. After five years of fighting the War on Terror, military appropriations should be included in the regular budget. Ditto relief efforts for Katrina. That disaster occurred last September, and billions have already been shelled out for relief. Where’s the “emergency”?
That being said, the “emergency” supplemental is a reality. The White House requested around $94 billion and the House approved around $94 billion. The Senate, on the other hand, loaded this baby up with pork and earmarks, swelling the bill to over $108 billion.
Now, apparently, the House and the Senate have agreed to keep the bill at $94 billion. But since the Senate refuses to give up any of its earmarks, that means some $14 billion is going to have to be cut from what is supposed to be “emergency” money needed for the war and hurricane relief.
If Congress chooses pork over bullets, President Bush should veto this bill whether it comes in at $94 billion or not. This unconscionable spending has to end!
