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House Conservatives Cut $500M Off Vet Bill (small victory)
Forbes ^ | 5-20-06 | jim Abrams

Posted on 05/20/2006 6:26:38 AM PDT by Gipper08

House conservatives, rejecting protests from fellow Republicans who said they were depriving troops of needed support, stripped $500 million in military projects from a veterans spending bill Friday.

Democrats in turn said GOP-backed tax cuts and a tight budget passed two days ago were behind a fiscal crisis leading to the cuts.

"I don't know why they (the troops) should be stuck in the middle of a family squabble within the Republican Party," said Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

The conservatives, led by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, used parliamentary procedures to delete some 20 projects worth $507 million from the $94 billion spending bill for military construction and veterans programs in fiscal 2007, which will begin Oct. 1. The overall bill passed 395-0.

Writers of the legislation, seeking to meet limits outlined in the just-passed budget, had taken the money for the projects from a $50 billion war reserve to fund urgent projects, a move characterized by both conservatives and Democrats as a budgetary gimmick.

Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a fiscal hawk, asked how $18.1 million for a bachelor enlisted quarters at Camp Pendleton in California or $102 million for a brigade complex at Fort Lewis, Washington, could be considered emergency spending.

"The ink is not even dry on the budget and we are already attempting to violate it, and that's simply not right," said Hensarling.

The conservatives also noted the bill contained some 66 other earmarks, or projects requested by individual members, costing the same $500 million.

But Rep. James Walsh, R-N.Y., chairman of the subcommittee that wrote the bill, slammed Hensarling, saying, "He does not understand that we are at war."

"Please don't come out here and lecture us," Rep. Ray LaHood of Illinois, another GOP member of the Appropriations Committee, told the conservatives. "Pick another bill, not this one."

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., a leader of the conservatives, told reporters this would not be the last spending battle. "I think you are going to see an ongoing effort by House conservatives to see this Congress live within our means."

Democrats also pointed out that, while the bill approves record levels of spending for veterans' and active duty health programs, it falls $735 million short because the House did not go along with a White House request for fee increases for military retirees eligible for Tricare, the Defense Department's health care system.

Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas, top Democrat on the military quality of life and veterans affairs subcommittee, said that shortfall, coupled with $316 million in underfunding for base closings and the $507 million cut from construction projects, left the bill $1.5 billion short of what was needed.

"This sends a terrible message to our troops here at home, in Iraq, and Afghanistan," Edwards said.

Democrats proposed paying for the 20 projects, the $735 million for active duty health care and the $1.82 billion increase in veterans' health care by trimming tax cuts for those making over $1 million annually. The proposed amendments were ruled out of order.

The White House, while expressing support for the legislation, issued a statement questioning some of its components. It criticized the use of war reserve funds for military construction projects, and urged Congress to eliminate the 66 earmarks that the administration had not requested.

It also opposed cuts in spending to carry out the 2005 base closing act, and urged Congress to consider administration proposals to increase copayments and enrollment fees for higher-income non-disabled veterans and for military retirees under 65 using Tricare.

The bill provides $25.4 billion for veterans' health programs, up $2.6 billion from the current fiscal year, and $21 billion for the Defense Department health program, up $1 billion. Some $5.5 billion is funded for base closing activities, $6.6 billion for military construction and $4 billion for family housing construction.

The bill is H.R. 5385.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 109th; conservatives; federalspending; hensarling; hr5385; mikepence; pence; veterans
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1 posted on 05/20/2006 6:26:39 AM PDT by Gipper08
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To: Gipper08
Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a fiscal hawk, asked how $18.1 million for a bachelor enlisted quarters at Camp Pendleton in California or $102 million for a brigade complex at Fort Lewis, Washington, could be considered emergency spending.

He is The Man.
2 posted on 05/20/2006 6:58:24 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: Gipper08

But, but, that bridge in Alaska needs that $500 million more than the vets. /s


3 posted on 05/20/2006 6:58:53 AM PDT by CPOSharky (Go home and fix your own country before you complain about ours.)
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To: Gipper08
"I don't know why they (the troops) should be stuck in the middle of a family squabble within the Republican Party," said Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

As I have said it before, this guy's days are numbered. When I joined the Navy 19 years ago, Obey was my congressman. I had to join because there were no jobs up in Northern Wisconsin. He is a laugh. After working my way up the enlisted ranks, receiving an appointment by the Secretary of the Navy to Annapolis(and graduating), vet of both Gulf Wars and having spent the last 10 years as a Navy Instructor Pilot(jets and P-3s), I am getting ready to retire and take this guy on in a run for congress in a couple of years. I have met with Bar Association of Northern Wisconsin members and NEA members and they are ready for a change. Remember the name Scott Gunderson(born and raised true Wisconsin native). I will be a freeper always and I will remain incorruptible as a public servant. After I kick Obey's butt, next will come Russ.
4 posted on 05/20/2006 7:08:38 AM PDT by P3pilotJAX
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To: CPOSharky
"But, but, that bridge in Alaska needs that $500 million more than the vets. /s"

The military is the right place for the GOP to cut fat. [just kidding].

5 posted on 05/20/2006 7:17:43 AM PDT by ex-snook ("But above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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To: Gipper08

This was probably a wise decision, looks like most of it is for unneeded military construction, but..............


The problem is Democrats will take this headline and use it against Republicans.

REPUBLICANS CUT VET BILL. You know that reads as if Republicans have cut veterans' benefits. There could be no more damaging accusation during time of war, democrats know that.


6 posted on 05/20/2006 7:17:45 AM PDT by YaYa123
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To: George W. Bush
Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., a leader of the conservatives, told reporters this would not be the last spending battle. "I think you are going to see an ongoing effort by House conservatives to see this Congress live within our means."

ITS ABOUT TIME!
7 posted on 05/20/2006 7:25:54 AM PDT by HHKrepublican_2
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To: HHKrepublican_2

And long overdue!


8 posted on 05/20/2006 7:29:04 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: George W. Bush

It is a shame the namesake for you FR-SN isnt a fiscal conservative.


9 posted on 05/20/2006 7:31:51 AM PDT by HHKrepublican_2
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To: Gipper08
The White House, while expressing support for the legislation, issued a statement questioning some of its components. It criticized the use of war reserve funds for military construction projects, and urged Congress to eliminate the 66 earmarks that the administration had not requested. This little tid bit is buried in this story so deep I almost missed it. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong - but, I read this: in committee and on it's rounds, this bill gained 66 addendums... undoubtedly by members with special interests and pet projects in their home states. I say BRAVO for knocking the bill down a few notches.
10 posted on 05/20/2006 7:34:51 AM PDT by Army MP Retired (Freedom Isn't Free)
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To: All

There is the point of why that bill? Why not make this stand on a different bill?

The GOP should quietly lump earmarks for Democrat districts into certain bills and their own earmarks for a different bill. Then when the Dem bill comes up, hammer it in the press. The GOP earmarks won't get addressed because we have the majority and control the agenda. The fight over GOP earmarks would be internal and out of the limelight.

This battle looks like it was fought for a noble cause, but it was not well chosen in the context of the media.


11 posted on 05/20/2006 7:36:20 AM PDT by Owen
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To: George W. Bush
"...$18.1 million for a bachelor enlisted quarters at Camp Pendleton in California..."

I wonder if Marines are still living in the same squad bay I lived in at Camp Margarita in 1959? If they are, it just might be time to upgrade their quarters.

12 posted on 05/20/2006 7:38:00 AM PDT by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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To: DJ Taylor

Indisputably true DJ - but, the point, I think, as Owen pointed out - what in the name of blazes does a BEQ at Camp Pendleton have to do with Veteran's benefits??? The media is spinning this to make it look like we're taking from Vet's.


13 posted on 05/20/2006 7:55:07 AM PDT by Army MP Retired (Freedom Isn't Free)
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To: DJ Taylor
I wonder if Marines are still living in the same squad bay I lived in at Camp Margarita in 1959? If they are, it just might be time to upgrade their quarters.

If so, then you're right. But that is not emergency spending. That is part of the regular budget. This is just a way to sneak a lot of pork into the regular budget and then come back and add other routine expenditures into the 'emergency' budget.

In short, these are the same tricks the Gingrich congress came up against over and over. It's a shabby Dim budget trick. It is willfully dishonest.

It's not an emergency. And Rumsfeld's forward-deployment agenda indicates that building up our stateside bases isn't the direction he wants to go.
14 posted on 05/20/2006 8:00:42 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: Gipper08
Why are Officers Quarters and Brigade Complexes part of a Veterans bill? Hospitals, pensions, survivors benefits, and cemeteries seem more like Veteran benefits.
15 posted on 05/20/2006 8:10:42 AM PDT by rock58seg (Primary or Caucus coming up, vote or attend, if it's past, and you didn't! <B> STFU!</b>)
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To: Gipper08
It used to be said:

God and Soldier, all men adored
In time of danger, and not before
When the danger has passed, and all things righted
God is forgotten, and the Soldier is slighted

I guess that will have to be modified.

The GOP is certainly, in many ways, trying their best to once again become the party of "loyal opposition".

16 posted on 05/20/2006 8:23:19 AM PDT by ImpBill ("America ... Where are you now?")
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To: Gipper08
The bill provides $25.4 billion for veterans' health programs, up $2.6 billion from the current fiscal year, and $21 billion for the Defense Department health program, up $1 billion.

Rats, of course, will call this a cut.
17 posted on 05/20/2006 8:24:38 AM PDT by stylin19a (There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't)
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To: CPOSharky

And how about the 700 million to destroy the perfectly good RR along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.


18 posted on 05/20/2006 8:39:35 AM PDT by Hurricane
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To: P3pilotJAX
"I will be a freeper always and I will remain incorruptible as a public servant."

I've a friend who went into politics. (He is now a State Senator for Ohio.) He is one of those rarities an honest politician. Long before he reached his present level of politics he had a phrase he lived by.

What Would Ben (Franklin) Do.

It seems to have served him well.

19 posted on 05/20/2006 8:47:30 AM PDT by Mad Dawgg ("`Eddies,' said Ford, `in the space-time continuum.' `Ah,' nodded Arthur, `is he? Is he?'")
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To: P3pilotJAX

Fair winds and following seas. Go get'em!


20 posted on 05/20/2006 9:08:26 AM PDT by Wristpin ("The Yankees announce plan to buy every player in Baseball....")
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