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Thieves in the Night
Congress is about to add $87.5 billion in additional spending to our already bloated budget. But why are they in such a hurry? On Wednesday, March 16, the U.S. House will vote on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief -- H.R. 1268. They're calling this horrendous bill an "Emergency" so they can ignore their spending caps.

Congress could use HR 1268 for spending money on defense, the war in Iraq, tsunami relief, foreign aid to more than a half-dozen nations, peacekeeping interventionism, an embassy in Iraq, an airport in Kuwait, money to help Afghan farmers stop raising poppy, and more -- including yet to be announced pork that will be added during the debate. One bit of pork has already been announced for this emergency wartime bill will also allow the District of Columbia to use taxpayers' funds to build a new baseball stadium.

A partial list of things included in this bill:

- $656 million for tsunami relief
- $94 million for Darfur
- $150 million for food aid; most to Liberia and Sudan
- $580 million for peacekeeping; most for Sudan
- $582 million to build a new American embassy in Iraq
- $76 million to build a new airport in Kuwait
- $257 million for counter drug efforts in Afghanistan
- $372 million for health, reconstruction and alternative development programs to help farmers stop raising poppy
- $200 million in economic aid for the Palestinians
- $150 million for Pakistan
- $200 million for Jordan
- $34 million for Ukraine
- $40 million for FBI personnel in Iraq
- This emergency wartime bill will also allow the District of Columbia to use taxpayers' funds to build a new baseball stadium.
- One can only imagine what will be added during the next several hours of debate when members' pet projects are funded to buy those members' votes.

posted by Hal 7:44 PM