Posted by
Bull 67 on Friday, July 31, 2009 10:08:57 AM
This article was on page 14 of the New York Times this morning. It focused on two Republican congressmen trying to "embarrass" democrats and, specifically Mr. Murtha, over pork in the defense appropriations bill. Here are some key excerpts:
While the House voted 269 to 165 to approve an amendment that stripped out money for building more F-22s, it overwhelmingly rejected efforts by Mr. Flake and Mr. Campbell to cut up to $2.7 billion in earmarks, including money that lawmakers had inserted on behalf of specific companies on 553 smaller projects...The bill also included more than $1 billion to continue work on larger projects the administration wants to kill, like a new presidential helicopter, and nearly $1.2 billion for combat planes that the Pentagon did not request...The overall bill, which would set military appropriations for 2010, passed by 400 to 30. The Senate will take up its version later this year, and the two bills will need to be reconciled in conference...Mr. Obama had repeatedly threatened to veto any bill that included more money for the F-22, the world’s most advanced fighter, as the Pentagon seeks to shift more from high-tech weaponry to simpler systems the troops can use now.
The real question is why it passed 400 to 30 if the White House was so adamant Obama "would consider recommending a veto if the House went ahead with plans...to try to save the troubled effort to create a new presidential helicopter and to finance development of an alternative engine for another new fighter plane, the F-35." Why would the vast overwhelming majority of democratic congressmen vote to buck the White House to vote for this barrel of pork when those votes may come back to haunt them in the next election?
Obama is planting seeds for the fall, when big votes come up on healthcare and 'cap and trade'. He won't veto the defense bill, pork and all, when it comes across this desk. And key votes will magically appear to carry his healthcare.
The more things change...