Congress Likely to ADD to War Request

[kskiska]

Lawmakers' Priorities Probably Will Push Bush Proposal Beyond $87 Billion

Even as new questions surface about items in President Bush's war spending request, lawmakers say the measure's $87 billion price tag appears more likely to expand than shrink this week when lawmakers draft legislation to fund the war and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Republicans and Democrats alike are questioning some Iraq reconstruction provisions, such as a $100 million witness protection program, two $200 million prisons and a $9 million effort to automate the postal system and establish Zip codes. New details emerged yesterday on the Afghan side of the ledger, including $3 million to meet the government's payroll through June, $9 million for tax collection, $20 million to finance 200 election experts for six months, $10 million to build four industrial parks and 50 crop-and-livestock markets, $8 million for an Afghan Highway Patrol, and $30 million to protest President Hamid Karzai.

Even so, the prominent changes that Congress may approve would expand the cost. The Senate Appropriations Committee will begin drafting its version of the war spending bill today. House Appropriations Committee leaders hope their version will reach a final vote by mid-October.

If Democrats demand some spending on their priorities as the price for their support, "they'll do it in a heartbeat," Daniel J. Mitchell, an economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said of the White House and GOP leadership.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19346-2003Sep29.html

[KoKo]

1. 20 Mil for Election Experts and only 10 million for four industrial parks

and 50 crop and livestock markets.....what the hell!!! Prisons and Higway Patrol, too! Recreating the US there!

What have they gotton us into! Are they building Orlando there complete with Disney World and Epcot? :grr:

[E_Zapata]

2. This is insane.

They are creating their own little fiefdom.

fix the water.
fix the electricity.
fix whatever bridges they demolished and other major structures.
create a free election system.
hand the keys to the country to the people.
leave.

The war last 3 weeks, and most of it was in the rural desert region. How/when did the ENTIRETY of the country get demolished and trashed? Down to every last service sector.

I should think saddam had enough prison space to last him a millenium. 1/2 bill on two new prisons. a 1/2 a billion dollars. a 1/2 a billion dollars. We could do so much right here with that much money.

I am sick. Truly sick.

[frank frankly]

3. E Zapata, you are right on

those evil f**ks are selling everything in Iraq to their cronies!

it is as awful as something can be.

[Mokito]

4. ??? Can someone explain those last $30 million to me please ???

Republicans and Democrats alike are questioning some Iraq reconstruction provisions, such as a $100 million witness protection program, two $200 million prisons and a $9 million effort to automate the postal system and establish Zip codes. New details emerged yesterday on the Afghan side of the ledger, including $3 million to meet the government's payroll through June, $9 million for tax collection, $20 million to finance 200 election experts for six months, $10 million to build four industrial parks and 50 crop-and-livestock markets, $8 million for an Afghan Highway Patrol, and $30 million to protest President Hamid Karzai.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Typo. Should be "protect".

[Media_Lies_Daily]

6. Meanwhile, back in the real world...

Millions are unemployed. With the addition of those that gave up looking for a job when they dropped off the unemployment rolls, the REAL unemployment rate is close to 9.1%.

43.6 million are without health insurance.

Millions are considered to be well below thw poverty line.

Public education continues to underfunded and is the first budget lawmakers cut when shortfalls take place.

...and so on.

[sandnsea]

7. AND the $200 billion Iraqi debt

We're responsible for that too, mustn't use Enronomics to hide this monstrous bill.