In a 218-212 vote, Democrats passed H.R. 1591 and gave George Bush all the money he wanted-and some. He got all $103 billion - $96 billion for Iraq and $7 billion* for the 'real' war on terror in Afghanistan.
Bush, as usual, is whining about the Democrats not supporting the troops. It's hard to tell why - Democrats gave the troops $6 billion more on top of the $103 billion he asked for.
Of course, Bush can't give the $6 billion to Blackwater. He has to spend it on training, equipment and the wounded. There's actually Congressional oversight on that type of thing now.
This is the first time in the four years we've been in Iraq that Congress passed an appropriation bill that demands and guarantees our military are properly trained and have the proper equipment. The troops get it, or Bush can't send them. That's the way you'd want it to be for your kid, isn't it?
Democrats added $1.4 billion for armored vehicles, too. That's supporting the troops.
H.R. 1591's total cost is $124 billion.
Democrats also gave wounded Iraq war vets, other veterans, Katrina victims, farmers, children, and the general public, $21 billion.
The cost of Bush's war in Iraq just went up to $14 billion per MONTH with this additional FY07 funding.
If you think spending $25 million to bail out battered spinach growers is too much money, what's your view on us spending $25 million every hour and 15 minutes in Iraq? ...Yeah, that's right....$467 million every DAY.
Take a quick look at this partial list of the $21 billion in 'pork' that Democrats added to the $103 billion - $6-9 billion of the $21 billion goes to the DOD and the VA.
* $20 million for "cleanup and restoration of farmland" damaged by freezing weather. This targets San Joaquin Valley orchards hurt in a stunning January freeze, although the region is not specifically named in the bill.
* $25 million for California spinach growers or handlers who weren't able to ship their produce following an e. coli-scare last year; the aid could cover up to 75 percent of the lost sales.
* About $1.8 billion in crop disaster assistance payments nationwide, covering damages from a variety of natural disasters since 2005.
* $40 million to replace or rehabilitate trees damaged by freezes. This is twice as much as the House is offering for the more generic category of restoring farmland.
* $100 million in assistance for farmworker and small businesses hurt by natural disaster. The House does not include similar funds.
* $95 million for California dairy producers hurt by a heat wave last year.
* $6.4 billion funding for Hurricane Katrina
* $3.5 billion for military health care, $1 billion for avian flu preparedness, and $750 million for SCHIP.
I like birds but I don't like the flu, so that $1 billion, a couple of days worth in Iraq, seems pretty reasonable to me.
'SCHIP' stands for, State Children's Health Insurance Program. That 'pork', will be distributed to the 50 states to help subsidize medical insurance for poor children.
I really don't have a problem with spending that additional $750 million on children's health insurance anymore than I care that Bush wastes that $750 million every 39 HOURS in Iraq.
How about you?
