Remember all the heartache of bridges and need for more taxes?

imported_Shivetya

Platinum Member
Jul 7, 2005
2,978
1
0
Six weeks after a fatal Minneapolis bridge collapse prompted criticism of federal spending priorities, the Senate approved a transportation and housing bill Wednesday containing at least $2 billion for pet projects that include a North Dakota peace garden, a Montana baseball stadium and a Las Vegas history museum.


Let no one say that Congress doesn't get it done. I think they have stuffed enough fat cat pockets here to ensure decades of safe driving for the average American.

EIGHT BILLION dollars in earmarks in Transportations Departments 63 BILLION dollar budget. WOW! Why be secretly corrupt when you can be overt and thumb your noses at the American Public.


 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,591
5
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We provide entertainment for the world.

Should we not be able to demonstrate how all the suckers came to be?

Reid needed to show his true colors :(


Also, notice that the Senate refused to even attempt to be held accountable (both sides).
By 82-14 they refused to allow no-earmarks until all bridges were taken care of.


Bush has threatened to veto this package - as well he should. There is no excuse for these earmarks.
 

jonks

Lifer
Feb 7, 2005
13,918
20
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Amazingly, I'm rooting for the Bush veto.

EDIT: well on second thought 2.5 billion out of 106 billion isn't as bad as it could be. There will always be pork, so minimizing should be the immediate goal, as eliminating would probably be impractical/impossible right off the bat.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296549,00.html

WASHINGTON ? Ignoring a veto promise from the White House, the Senate on Wednesday passed a $106 billion transportation and housing bill rejecting President Bush's proposed cuts to Amtrak, housing programs and community development projects.

The measure, passed by a 88-7 vote, also includes $200 million to provide aid to nonprofits and other groups that offer counseling and information to help homeowners with subprime mortgages avoid foreclosures.

It's just the fourth of 12 appropriations bills to pass the Senate, even though the new budget year begins in less than three weeks. The White House promised Bush would veto the transportation bill because of "an irresponsible and excessive level of spending."

But the measure enjoys broad support from senators in both parties for funding popular road and bridge construction projects, Amtrak subsidies and grants for community development projects.

The bill rejects Bush-planned cuts in subsidies for otherwise unprofitable rural air routes and reverses his proposal to eliminate funding for a $100 million program to rehabilitate "severely distressed" public housing projects.

It also contains an almost 50 percent increase over current spending to repair and replace the country's crumbling network of bridges, as well as $195 million sought by Minnesota GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and his Democratic colleague Amy Klobuchar to replace the collapsed Interstate 35W span in Minneapolis.

Much of the momentum behind the transportation and housing measure comes from the more than 800 home-state projects inserted into the measure by senators in both parties. Those so-called earmarks total more than $2.5 billion, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, a budget watchdog group based in Washington.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,095
513
126
But but James Douchebagstar said we should accept a gas tax hike or "God" help us!!!!!!!!