Posted on 10/16/2013 4:47:28 PM PDT by jazusamo
Buried inside the new stopgap spending bill are several pork project goodies, including nearly quadrupling the maximum price of a dam project on the Ohio River that is turning into a boondoggle — up to nearly $3 billion.
The bill also includes $174,000 of taxpayer money being sent to the widow of the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg. The death gratuity, which has been paid to widows of other lawmakers in the past, raised hackles since Mr. Lautenberg was a multimillionaire, while the government is $16.7 trillion in debt.
But lawmakers did nix one provision that was in an early draft posted online — they canceled authority to build another Coast Guard cutter, as a cost of nearly $600 million per ship.
While leaders announced they’d reached a deal just after noon, the actual bill was still being rewritten late in the afternoon and lawmakers were still arguing over final provisions. They finalized it around 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Included in the measure is money to pay back all of the states that signed agreements funding national parks within their borders during the shutdown — with interest.
The measure also repays all federal employees for the days the government was shutdown, including the hundreds of thousands who were furloughed and didn’t work.
It wasn’t immediately clear who had requested the Ohio River dam project, which is important to both Kentucky and Illinois, the home states of two very powerful Senate leaders: Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, and Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
total is close to $1 trillion dollars more debt authorized by this bill. obama and the democrats can buy a lot more votes with a trillion $.
there was never any chance of default. they didn’t have to raise the debt ceiling. it’s all news media lies
The real news not being reported is, Obama is now a lame duck. He tried to destroy the GOP and failed. Even GOP supporters of immigration reform are saying they can’t work with Obama now, he’s a lame duck - very soon to be a petulant lame duck.
that’s their definition of a “clean” bill? $3B is just a little dust, eh?
You couldn’t be more right!
He’s been a pompous, petty, petulant little pri** for a long time.
I’m betting it will be a a lot more than 3 billion before they’re done.
Cloture VOTE
83 for Obama - 16 PATRIOTS in the US Senate.
Dingy’s clean CR isn’t so clean. Surprise, surprise.
Since the ‘mind set’ of Government workers has shifted, look for next shut down with the so called ‘ESSENTIAL’ employees will be holding out for double pay or just not work.
Can’t really ‘blame’ them— ‘forced’ to work with the ‘glorious’ title of ‘essential’.
Surprised the Union hasn’t figured out how to appease both sides since they represent them all....
THE only saving grace would be for Congress to CUT say 60% of the NON ESSENTIAL force...starting by attrition....and early retirement packages...
Oh, don’t hold your breath....ha...
No doubt about it, this article only addresses the glaring pork.
God bless the 16 Patriots, traitors be damned.
close to a Trillion $ more debt authorized by this bill
SLUTS!!!!! ALL OF THEM ARE SLUTS!!!!!! They would sell their mamma if they had a chance to line their pockets.
America bend over cause you are getting the shaft.
Vote the WHORES out!
But my two senators, Shelby and Sessions, voted against this crap! Makes me even prouder to be from Alabama - Roll Tide!
bill needed unanimous consent.
why didn’t your senators block the bill?
Anyone have a list of the 16 nay’s?
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