EDITORIAL: Unions first, troops last--Democrats hold war funding hostage for Big Labor

The Washington Times ^ | July 8, 2010 | Editorial

[jazusamo]

Funding for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq could be held up by the war brewing on Capitol Hill among congressional Democrats and the White House. When the Senate returns to take up the $45.5 billion supplemental appropriations bill that passed the House on July 1, the central issue to resolve will be how best to appease Big Labor.

Like most supplementals, this bill began with a singular purpose: paying war expenses. It since has been larded with billions in wasteful projects and programs designed to attract the vote of the left-of-center members with no fondness for the military. Among the House-approved giveaways are a $10 billion bailout for big-spending local governments, loan guarantees worth $9 billion for purported renewable energy, $3 billion for black farmers and American Indians who sued the government and $1 billion for summertime "youth activities."

Education unions that detest any hint of innovation in their industry convinced House Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey, Wisconsin Democrat, to redirect $800 million in funding mostly taken from "Race to the Top," President Obama's modest replacement for No Child Left Behind. That was enough to instigate a veto threat from the White House last week.

[ILS21R]

In other news, a dog bit a man today...

[FrankR]

[SkyPilot]

$3 billion for black farmers and American Indians who sued the government and $1 billion for summertime "youth activities."

Sometimes, I feel like we are in an all out race war in this nation.

[jazusamo]

Yep, those minority farmer lawsuits are nothing but ripoffs and I hadn’t read about the youth activities but WTH is the federal government doing funding that?

These lame Congress critters talk about a billion dollars as if it was pocket change.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks jazusamo.

Like most supplementals, this bill began with a singular purpose: paying war expenses. It since has been larded with billions in wasteful projects and programs designed to attract the vote of the left-of-center members... Education unions that detest any hint of innovation in their industry convinced House Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey, Wisconsin Democrat, to redirect $800 million in funding mostly taken from "Race to the Top," President Obama's modest replacement for No Child Left Behind. That was enough to instigate a veto threat from the White House last week.

[Clint Williams]

Sometimes, I feel like we are in an all out race war in this nation.

Only sometimes?

[callisto]

Yep, those minority farmer lawsuits are nothing but ripoffs and I hadn’t read about the youth activities but WTH is the federal government doing funding that?

These lame Congress critters talk about a billion dollars as if it was pocket change.

They're redistributing wealth at every opportunity. We're witnessing the last gasp of the Democrat Party. They know this and they're going for broke (in more ways than one) before Obama's term is up.

[Noob1999]

..................$3 billion for black farmers and American Indians who sued the government.....................

Only $3 billion? Just wait till we are able to throw in those illegal, ah, er, newly legal immigrant farmers into the minority mix.

[Travis T. OJustice]

Hmmm, I wonder if the democrats would EVER consider war if we paid our troops union rates and union rules, because if i recall from my military experivnce, we made about %25 percent of the "prevailing wage" based on time on duty.

SSure, I only stood 2 each 4 hour watches, but I was also stuk on board for the other 16 hours a day, and had to work well beyond my 4 hour watch when called on.

Democrats are hypocritical scum.

[GailA]

This is worse than the cheesy 1.9% pay raise that Gates says is all our Military deserves.....because their HEALTH CARE COST TO MUCH!