"We Will Ban All Earmarks In The Recovery Package.” - Obama

[posty 2,804]

http://republican.senate.gov/public/index....41-0403f6b0df02

 

Reid-Pelosi Dems Dismiss President Obama’s Earmark Ban In Spending Bill

 

In Addition To Earmarks In House Bill, Senate Bill Includes Millions For Projects From Fish Barriers To ATV Trails To Honey Bee Insurance

 

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: “We Will Ban All Earmarks In The Recovery Package.” (Barack Obama, Press Conference, 1/6/09)

 

• $20 million “for the removal of small- to medium-sized fish passage barriers.” (Pg. 45 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “20,000,000 for the removal of small- to medium-sized fish passage barriers)

 

• $400 million for STD prevention (Pg. 60 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “CDC estimates that a proximately 19 million new STD infections occur annually in the United States …The Committee has included $400,000,000 for testing and prevention of these conditions.”)

 

• $25 million to rehabilitate off-roading (ATV) trails (Pg. 45 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “$25,000,000 is for recreation maintenance, especially for rehabilitation of off-road vehicle routes, and $20,000,000 is for trail maintenance and restoration”)

 

• $34 million to remodel the Department of Commerce HQ (Pg. 15 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: $34,000,000 for the Department of Commerce renovation and modernization”)

 

• $70 million to “Support Supercomputing Activities” for climate research (Pgs. 14-15 of Senate Appropriations Committee Report: $70,000,000 is directed to specifically support supercomputing activities, especially as they relate to climate research)

 

• $150 million for honey bee insurance (Pg. 102 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “The Secretary shall use up to $ 50,000,000 per year, and $150,000,000 in the case of 2009, from the Trust Fund to provide emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish to aid in the reduction of losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary”)

[Recliner Pilot 61]

At least that promise lasted longer than his "No lobbyists in my cabinet" promise.

[Recliner Pilot 61]

:crickets:

[BLS 314]

Pretty damning evidence.

 

But of course, you can't pass blame just yet. Obama hasn't voted on the bill yet.

What he'll do is line item veto those ridiculous earmarks, and will not only come out squeeky clean, but Congress will be able to say we managed to get this bill through with no pork.

 

And to the average Joe, he'll be ok with Obama cleaning up the spending.

 

But under the surface, they'll still pass billions for ridiculous Liberal spending AND come out looking good in the process.

[surferskin 30]

Pretty damning evidence.

 

But of course, you can't pass blame just yet. Obama hasn't voted on the bill yet.

What he'll do is line item veto those ridiculous earmarks, and will not only come out squeeky clean, but Congress will be able to say we managed to get this bill through with no pork.

 

And to the average Joe, he'll be ok with Obama cleaning up the spending.

 

But under the surface, they'll still pass billions for ridiculous Liberal spending AND come out looking good in the process.

Except, Obama's team is responsible for coming up with the bill and he's already given it his OK.

[Recliner Pilot 61]

I didn't think there was a line item veto available to the Pres.

[GettnHuge 2]

there is no line item veto available to the Pres.

 

fixed

[wiffleball 4,797]

Was watching something the other day about this. They brought up whatever amount of money was to go to schools. But then they started breaking it down: You remodel a school and you put contractors, electricians, plumbers, day laborers, dry wallers, painters - a whole shiitload of people to work.

 

Never really thought about it that way. You just figger, more teachers, more books kind of stuff. So, with that in mind, I'm looking at the 'earmarks' a little differently now. I mean, I don't know what's involved in small fish barrier removal, but I'm guessing some guys who are trying to feed their family will end up doing the work. And I guess with that in mind, in this economy, I'm cool with that.

 

At least FAR cooler than I am with giving borrowed money to foreign countries that hate us. FAR cooler than building schools that will very likely become Maddrassas in Afghan and Iraq. I'd rather re-build ATV trails in America - with American workers - than build public works projects half a world away and pay Iraqis. That money will never get back into the US economy. Our guys? Will pay their taxes, pay sales and property taxes. - At least there's some chance of some payback.

 

Yeah, there's a shiitload of prok. But if it trickles down to guys making 40-50K a year, I'm a shiitload happier than I am when it's just used to fund multi-million dollar bonuses to Bank Presidents & executives.

[surferskin 30]

Yeah, there's a shiitload of prok. But if it trickles down to guys making 40-50K a year, I'm a shiitload happier than I am when it's just used to fund multi-million dollar bonuses to Bank Presidents & executives.

Oh, so trickle down economics works when the government tries it?

[GettnHuge 2]

well ppl had a choice, could have voted for a guy who says he would veto and call out every politician of

either party who put an earmark of wasteful spending on a bill....or vote for a guy who's policies would

come from a congress with half the approval rating of Prez Bush.

 

Crinton started out the same way with broken promises and horrible ideas and that congress got tossed.

before that was carter and dem congress. dem congress+dem prez=disaster

[wiffleball 4,797]

Oh, so trickle down economics works when the government tries it?

 

yes, thats EXACTLY my thesis.

[surferskin 30]

yes, thats EXACTLY my thesis.

I thought it had something to do with you trying to polish a turd.

[BLS 314]

As much as I hate the idea of any 'stimulus' package, I'm in favor a spending on schools, roads, bridges, etc., where I know the money will make it to businesses, and therefore employees.

 

However, much of this bill is a joke.

[Voltaire 5,453]

Presidents don't get line item vetoes. It's an awful waste of taxpayers money. I'd have even supported letting The Sh*thead have line item veto authority. Any president regardless of party, even retarded ones.

[Recliner Pilot 61]

Presidents don't get line item vetoes. It's an awful waste of taxpayers money. I'd have even supported letting The Sh*thead have line item veto authority. Any president regardless of party, even retarded ones.

 

Hate Monger

[wiffleball 4,797]

As much as I hate the idea of any 'stimulus' package, I'm in favor a spending on schools, roads, bridges, etc., where I know the money will make it to businesses, and therefore employees.

 

However, much of this bill is a joke.

 

Pretty much exactly how I feel.

[itsbigmoni 1]

The amounts seem staggering. 25million to rebuild trails? Like others have mentioned, i don't have a problem with spending money like this. It takes people to do the cleaning so it will help the average joe. But 25million? Same thing with a lot of the other issues. I don't mind the investment in that particular area, but i think lawmakers are losing perspective. They're like 25mil out of 800 billion is a drop in the bucket. Its like they got a green light to do whatever the fock they want and throw it in with the stimulus stuff so nobody can say stuff. But if you look at it by itself, 25 is a shitload of money. They should show restraint. Their philosophy should be, lets try to spend as little as we can and use it effectively. Lets use money in critical areas specifically looking at things that will create jobs. Right now its, "We'll spend our way out of this depression." "We'll spend as much as we need to, there's no limit on that."

[surferskin 30]

The amounts seem staggering. 25million to rebuild trails? Like others have mentioned, i don't have a problem with spending money like this. It takes people to do the cleaning so it will help the average joe. But 25million? Same thing with a lot of the other issues. I don't mind the investment in that particular area, but i think lawmakers are losing perspective. They're like 25mil out of 800 billion is a drop in the bucket. Its like they got a green light to do whatever the fock they want and throw it in with the stimulus stuff so nobody can say stuff. But if you look at it by itself, 25 is a shitload of money. They should show restraint. Their philosophy should be, lets try to spend as little as we can and use it effectively. Lets use money in critical areas specifically looking at things that will create jobs. Right now its, "We'll spend our way out of this depression." "We'll spend as much as we need to, there's no limit on that."

BINGO. That's exactly what's happening.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

Its disgusting.

 

The way things are going, I will never vote again, and may look into getting dual citizenship elsewhere, just in case I ever decide its time to leave this place.

 

Congress is such a sad, sick, miserable focking joke.

[BMoney 0]

why not worry about putting that money into safer roads.....

 

building roundabouts...or getting street lights where deadly intersections are...

 

or redo the bridges that are all out of date...have we forgotten about the minny bridge already?

 

politicians ARE retarded...

 

we are way overbudget for salt and snow removal..but yet we spend tons on 4th of july celebrations and goofy sh1t that no one cares about...

 

meanwhile..i drive on roads...3 days of occasional blowing snow..and no plow in sight...and on my way home,i see kids in cars having to turn left on to a death trap of an intersection..

 

but hey look...that trail looks beautiful

[gocolts 300]

As much as I hate the idea of any 'stimulus' package, I'm in favor a spending on schools, roads, bridges, etc., where I know the money will make it to businesses, and therefore employees.

 

However, much of this bill is a joke.

 

The problem is this though. The money doesn't seem to ever make it there. Where in the fock has the millions and millions of dollars we have already gave the government to do these very things???

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

The problem is this though. The money doesn't seem to ever make it there. Where in the fock has the millions and millions of dollars we have already gave the government to do these very things???

 

Oh cmon, that's not fair.

 

All that money has been used to build some very lovely roads, schools, and bridges.

 

Of course, they are in Baghdad and Kabul, not the U.S., but still.

[mighty_thor 115]

I didn't think there was a line item veto available to the Pres.

 

There is no line item veto but a lot of this pork will likely get cut. The senate will likely cut out some of this pork in their bill and the final vote in the congress will include some republicans. This is how these things work and where the phrase. "I voted against the bill before I voted for it" comes from. Stop getting your panties in a bunch over a bill that is not law yet.

[Recliner Pilot 61]

There is no line item veto but a lot of this pork will likely get cut. The senate will likely cut out some of this pork in their bill and the final vote in the congress will include some republicans. This is how these things work and where the phrase. "I voted against the bill before I voted for it" comes from. Stop getting your panties in a bunch over a bill that is not law yet.

 

 

If you wait until is is law before expressing your opinion or raising hell it's too late. I sent emails to both my Senators and my Rep, although I'm sure none of them were gonna vote for this turd anyway.