19 replies to this topic

[7 VII 7]

President Obama pledged in August to cut all pork barrel projects from defense spending, threatening to veto any swollen bills that came across his desk -- a pledge shattered by nearly 2,000 pet projects that have made their way into the defense budget.

"If a project doesn't support our troops, we will not fund it," he said to a meeting of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Phoenix. "If a system doesn't perform, we will terminate it. And if Congress sends me a defense bill loaded with that kind of pork, I will veto it. "

Just last week, Obama broke his promise as he signed into law the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill -- a $636 billion behemoth loaded with $4.2 billion of pork.

"We should be concerned that we're getting ripped off," said Ryan Alexander, president of the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense.

"The earmarking process is the beginning of figuring out whether or not we're getting ripped off. Absolutely dollars are being directed, not based on the best decision making process."

In all, Congress added in 1,720 pet projects, including:

∙$5 million for a visitors center in San Francisco
∙$23 million for indigent health care in Hawaii
∙$18 million for the Edward Kennedy Policy Institute in Massachusetts
∙$1.6 million to computerize hospital records in Oakland
∙$47 million for anti-drug training centers around the country
∙$20 million for the World War II Museum in Louisiana
∙$3.9 million grant to develop an energy-efficient solar film for buildings
∙$800,000 for minority prostate cancer research
∙$3.6 million for marijuana eradication in Kentucky
∙$2.4 million for handicap access and a sprinkler system at a community club in New York

Lawmakers also added $5 billion for two destroyers, 10 C-17 cargo planes and to develop a jet engine the Pentagon neither wants nor needs. Critics call it classic pork -- projects that may save jobs, but not money.

"There is a reason they are added to the Defense appropriations bill, because everyone in Congress knows this is a must-pass piece of legislation", said Todd Harrison, a budget studies fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

Despite the billions in pork, the White House says it's making progress. The earmarking total is 14 percent lower than it was on last year's defense bill, and the Obama administration says federal agencies found more than $19 billion in contract savings for 2010. The president has also succeeded in killing funding for the pricy F-22 Joint Strike Fighter and a new presidential helicopter.

Members of Congress are also defending their earmarks. Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., who added the Ted Kennedy Institute to the defense budget, says it is a tribute to the late Senator's leadership on military technology and safety for our troops.

Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., says she was "proud" to secure $20 million for a new wing of the National World War II museum in her home state.

But a study by the Center of Defense Information says earmarks like those in this bill -- including those for the solar film, prostate cancer research, and the New York sprinkler system -- mean less money for pilot training, supplies, repairs and ammunition.

Harrison is especially disappointed Congress cut $300 million from a successful counterinsurgency program used by Army field commanders.

"That money is used by commanders on ground in Iraq and Afghanistan to fund small projects that help win over the local population," he said.

unbelievable

[Pops Racer]

Dodd got funds cut for airport security, can't wait for Bradley Int. to get hit.

None of this is surprising, it was predicted behavior. Kowtowing to unions and other special inetrests, closed door deals on spending that exclude opposition party, Scoffing at military, PCing terrorists, playing down the threat.

Lets review:

Russia attacks sovereign nation,no response.
Iran murders hundreds, twice, no response
Iran continues to acquire fissionable material, no response.
N. Korea launches missiles, no response.
Iran launches missiles, no response.

Those were all tests, and Obama failed miserably. These murderous regimes now know we are weak minded and will not respond, this just emboldens them.

It will get worse. Americans will die. And others seeking freedom will die.


Check my sig, it's happening.
I'm not a real conspiracy theorist, but I'm looking into it.

[7 VII 7]

[Chilled Man]

And this is different then any other lieing snake in Washington ?

[merlin390]

What change? The change we have in our pockets after he taxes us to death to pay for the pork.

[Smithwicks]

Chilled Man, on 31 December 2009 - 04:52 AM, said:

And this is different then any other lieing snake in Washington ?

Nope. Republican or Democrat their all politicians.

I think they've all been promising new and wonderful changes or reforms yet we seem to be complaining about the same things.

[Chilled Man]

LOL you actually expect a change from a bunch of Self promoting theives and liers ?

[Fudge_Brownie]

7 VII 7, on 30 December 2009 - 10:27 PM, said:

∙$5 million for a visitors center in San Francisco
∙$23 million for indigent health care in Hawaii
∙$18 million for the Edward Kennedy Policy Institute in Massachusetts
∙$1.6 million to computerize hospital records in Oakland
∙$47 million for anti-drug training centers around the country
∙$20 million for the World War II Museum in Louisiana
∙$3.9 million grant to develop an energy-efficient solar film for buildings
∙$800,000 for minority prostate cancer research
∙$3.6 million for marijuana eradication in Kentucky
∙$2.4 million for handicap access and a sprinkler system at a community club in New York

Some of that is straight ridiculous, but what's wrong with prostate cancer research? Or are they arguing that it should be funded privately?
I think its hilarious that the biggest number on there is anti-drug training centers. However, my girlfriend asked "How long is the time frame on that budget" and I think thats a good point. Is that 1 year? 10?

What about the $3.9 for energy-efficient film? Is there a justification that it will pay for itself if the government were to coat many of it's buildings with this product?

Dave, your post makes some sense, but I noticed they/you are not happy with buying two Destroyers or 10 planes yet advocates military funding? How do we fight without the tools? Or is there a surplus?

Wingnut, when I was done reading Dave's post I thought... I guess this is a simple problem of "not enough money to fund it all" and whether you believe home front spending on foreign military spending comes first. I have to say, I was leaning towards spending at home before spending on military. Until I read your re-cap of the news

Justin, did you vote? I want to say you didn't. Until you start voting yourself for President every four years, shhhh Justin for Pres 2012

[Chilled Man]

To me it makes no sense to vote since the next one is just as crooked

I say public exacution for public officals that dont live up to what they say they will do

[7 VII 7]

There is nothing wrong with those items.. but they should not be slid into a Defense Spending Bill just so they can get passed.

We need to get EVERYONE out of congress

[v4lve]

7 VII 7, on 31 December 2009 - 02:47 PM, said:

There is nothing wrong with those items.. but they should not be slid into a Defense Spending Bill just so they can get passed.

We need to get EVERYONE out of congress

Exactly, unless we are talking about the defense of a minorities prostate

[Pops Racer]

Even defense expenditures are pork based. Those C17's are built in some assholes district.

Another soldier was killed yesterday from my area. shot inthe back unloading medical supplies.
2 tours in Iraq, just got to Afghanistan 1 month ago.

I'm flipping. Get the fuck outta central asia, S. Korea, and N. Europe. Bring 'em home, and put 'em on our borders, on planes and in airports. Let the world see how fucked up they are without our help and our money. Let the terrorists blow them selves up on their own soil.
And keep them off our land, restrict visas and profile the fuck outta them.

Or keeping giving them lattes and Qurans.

[Spanky]

7 VII 7, on 30 December 2009 - 10:27 PM, said:

President Obama pledged in August to cut all pork barrel projects from defense spending, threatening to veto any swollen bills that came across his desk -- a pledge shattered by nearly 2,000 pet projects that have made their way into the defense budget.

"If a project doesn't support our troops, we will not fund it," he said to a meeting of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Phoenix. "If a system doesn't perform, we will terminate it. And if Congress sends me a defense bill loaded with that kind of pork, I will veto it. "

Just last week, Obama broke his promise as he signed into law the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill -- a $636 billion behemoth loaded with $4.2 billion of pork.

"We should be concerned that we're getting ripped off," said Ryan Alexander, president of the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense.

"The earmarking process is the beginning of figuring out whether or not we're getting ripped off. Absolutely dollars are being directed, not based on the best decision making process."

In all, Congress added in 1,720 pet projects, including:

∙$5 million for a visitors center in San Francisco
∙$23 million for indigent health care in Hawaii
∙$18 million for the Edward Kennedy Policy Institute in Massachusetts
∙$1.6 million to computerize hospital records in Oakland
∙$47 million for anti-drug training centers around the country
∙$20 million for the World War II Museum in Louisiana
∙$3.9 million grant to develop an energy-efficient solar film for buildings
∙$800,000 for minority prostate cancer research
∙$3.6 million for marijuana eradication in Kentucky
∙$2.4 million for handicap access and a sprinkler system at a community club in New York

Lawmakers also added $5 billion for two destroyers, 10 C-17 cargo planes and to develop a jet engine the Pentagon neither wants nor needs. Critics call it classic pork -- projects that may save jobs, but not money.

"There is a reason they are added to the Defense appropriations bill, because everyone in Congress knows this is a must-pass piece of legislation", said Todd Harrison, a budget studies fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

Despite the billions in pork, the White House says it's making progress. The earmarking total is 14 percent lower than it was on last year's defense bill, and the Obama administration says federal agencies found more than $19 billion in contract savings for 2010. The president has also succeeded in killing funding for the pricy F-22 Joint Strike Fighter and a new presidential helicopter.

Members of Congress are also defending their earmarks. Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., who added the Ted Kennedy Institute to the defense budget, says it is a tribute to the late Senator's leadership on military technology and safety for our troops.

Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., says she was "proud" to secure $20 million for a new wing of the National World War II museum in her home state.

But a study by the Center of Defense Information says earmarks like those in this bill -- including those for the solar film, prostate cancer research, and the New York sprinkler system -- mean less money for pilot training, supplies, repairs and ammunition.

Harrison is especially disappointed Congress cut $300 million from a successful counterinsurgency program used by Army field commanders.

"That money is used by commanders on ground in Iraq and Afghanistan to fund small projects that help win over the local population," he said.

unbelievable

Says the guy who makes all these posts while he is on the clock at a government based job.... a bit condescending dont you think? I am sure your average VS anti-porker wonders... "Does my tax dollars really pay for this idiot to blog all day?"

unfukkinbelievable!!!

Its politics, welcome to reality

[7 VII 7]

SPANKY, on 04 January 2010 - 06:31 PM, said:

Says the guy who makes all these posts while he is on the clock at a government based job.... a bit condescending dont you think? I am sure your average VS anti-porker wonders... "Does my tax dollars really pay for this idiot to blog all day?"

unfukkinbelievable!!!

Its politics, welcome to reality

I am doing things while I am on here. I have 3 workstations and 2 monitors in a KVM dumb dumb. So while the system is bogged down with scanning and security testing I still work.

Man you are an idiot.

[Pops Racer]

Chick fight!

[yangotang]

WINGNUT, on 31 December 2009 - 06:07 PM, said:

Even defense expenditures are pork based. Those C17's are built in some assholes district.

You should try and raise funds to raise a new factory for the C17s if you are unhappy with where they are built.

[Pops Racer]

I don't want them built at all. Don't care if they are built in your back yard. They are not needed. Spend money, or not, on more pressing issues or needs.

Like condoms for Spanky, the mom tapper.

Spend it on body armor upgrades, better intelligence equipment, my health care cost increase or paying down the debt. Or maybe getting you a clue.


Prayers have been answered:
Chris Dodd will not be my Senator again. One more criminal out of the system.

[yangotang]

WINGNUT, on 06 January 2010 - 03:32 PM, said:

I don't want them built at all. Don't care if they are built in your back yard. They are not needed. Spend money, or not, on more pressing issues or needs.

C-130Js are so much better anyhow.

[Pops Racer]

yang builds c17's in his back yard. hi yang!

[yangotang]

WINGNUT, on 07 January 2010 - 09:14 AM, said:

yang builds c17's in his back yard. hi yang!

lol i wish!