Pentagon agency tries to evade oversight, Murtha slashes their budget in half

[Greeby]

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Murtha_says_Pentagon_frustrates_Congressional_oversight_0727.html

Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) halved the budget of a Pentagon liaison office to the Congress in retaliation for what he sees as Defense Department foot-dragging on Congressional oversight. The Congressman's staff suggested leftovers from the tenure of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld were at fault for the lapses in cooperation with Congress.

The Office of Legislative Affairs, which serves as a go-between for Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Capitol Hill, is slated to lose $1.9 million.

"Mr. Murtha said that they have failed to answer Congressional questions in a timely matter," Matthew Mazonkey, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Democrat, said. The congressman chairs the powerful Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.-snip-

Now that's what I'm talking about. Next time these Bushco minions try to get fresh with Congress, start yanking their money

[PDJane]

1. I'm all for it,

especially if it works!

[flyarm]

2. K&R..woo hooo..can't you hear it now..cspan wash journal..ohh those evil liburals..n/t

[unkachuck]

3. and....

....I still say Murtha would make a hell of a Secretary of Defense....he's a little conservative for me but I love his no-nonsense approach to things....

....controlling the purse will get things done if guys like Murtha are in charge....

[indepat]

13. If only the Congress had the power of the purse-strings

[ljm2002]

4. Now there ya go...

...that ought to get their attention!

[robinlynne]

5. bout time. Thank-you Murtha!

[Lasher]

6. Way to be John!

If Junior vetoes every single spending bill public sentiment will turn against him more. And it would be hard to find a slogan for the NASCAR fans for this one. 'Democrats are starving the troops' makes a good propaganda sound bite but I wonder how 'Support the liaison office' would look on a bumper sticker.

This is hitting them where it hurts. Several of these 'good Bushies' at the pentagon are going to end up filing for unemployment like many of the rest of us.

[babylonsister]

7. I want to see a repeat from Moyers' show tonight about benchmarks and

Murtha; his name came up, and I don't think it was positive, but I was distracted so can't be sure.
And it had to do with the defense department.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. "the king of earmarks"

is how they refered to him. He's very good at getting money for his district.

[babylonsister]

12. So tell me please, how complimentary was it? nt

[otherlander]

8. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

:D :thumbsup:

[Richard Steele]

9. K&R

[KAT119]

11. k&R!! Thank you, John Murtha!!

[VP505]

14. I am glad

that Rep Murtha is standing up to the Pentagon liaison office but what bothers me about a pissing contest like that is the effect it might have on the lower level employees. Will there be some laid off, fired, transfered, I hope all parties concerned are not so stubborn that the lower level employees get hurt with that funding cut.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

15. More proof that Jack Murtha hates the troops.

:sarcasm: