By Diverting 2.6 BILLION DOLLARS from funds for troop training, fuel, operations, and AMMUNITION.
While those troops are engaged in one of the most remote and logistically austere regions of the world.
U.S. troop funds diverted to pet projects
Study finds $2.6 billion taken from guns and ammunition
By Shaun Waterman
The Washington Times
Senators diverted $2.6 billion in funds in a defense spending bill to pet projects largely at the expense of accounts that pay for fuel, ammunition and training for U.S. troops, including those fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to an analysis.Among the 778 such projects, known as earmarks, packed into the bill: $25 million for a new World War II museum at the University of New Orleans and $20 million to launch an educational institute named after the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.
While earmarks are hardly new in Washington, "in 30 years on Capitol Hill, I never saw Congress mangle the defense budget as badly as this year," said Winslow Wheeler, a former Senate staffer who worked on defense funding and oversight for both Republicans and Democrats. He is now a senior fellow at the Center for Defense Information, an independent research organization.
Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, called the transfer of funds from Pentagon operations and maintenance "a disgrace."
Leadership as practiced by Democrats; beggaring Tommy for the greater glory of Teddy.
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Filed under:
Senate
Tags: Defense Budget, Operations Funding, pork, theft
Comments (7)
$20 million to launch an... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Falze | October 15, 2009 3:27 PM | Score: 8 (10 votes cast)
$20 million to launch an educational institute named after the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
A place that gives swimming lessons?
1. Posted by Falze | October 15, 2009 3:27 PM |
Score: 8 (10 votes cast)
Posted on October 15, 2009 15:27
2. Posted by The Whistler | October 15, 2009 3:31 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
What a bunch of crooks.
2. Posted by The Whistler | October 15, 2009 3:31 PM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on October 15, 2009 15:31
3. Posted by SER![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 15, 2009 3:48 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Falze,
"A place that gives swimming lessons?"
- where do I send the bill for the coffee I spit up (laughing) on my keyboard?
3. Posted by SER![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 15, 2009 3:48 PM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on October 15, 2009 15:48
4. Posted by Flu-Bird | October 15, 2009 4:05 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Should the demacratic donkey/pig get shot at dawn or be sent to the spicemines of kessel for life?
4. Posted by Flu-Bird | October 15, 2009 4:05 PM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on October 15, 2009 16:05
5. Posted by bobdog | October 15, 2009 7:46 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Every time I think Congress can't find another more reprehensible scheme, I'm wrong.
Time for some real Change in Washington. These ass-hats don't deserve to represent us.
5. Posted by bobdog | October 15, 2009 7:46 PM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on October 15, 2009 19:46
6. Posted by davidt | October 15, 2009 9:47 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Imagine the shrieking if the Republicans had diverted $2.6 billion from some social program to the military.
6. Posted by davidt | October 15, 2009 9:47 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on October 15, 2009 21:47
7. Posted by Bob | October 16, 2009 6:55 AM | Score: -4 (6 votes cast)
My comment was taken down.
Interesting.
I'll try it again, free speech and all.
Taking back 00.48% of a military budget that has doubled in 10 years is a call to arms for panty twisters everywhere.
7. Posted by Bob | October 16, 2009 6:55 AM |
Score: -4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on October 16, 2009 06:55