Berkeley's anti-Marines declaration prompts bills to strip federal funds

The San Jose Mercury News ^ | February 6, 2008 | Doug Oakley

[2ndDivisionVet]

Uproar over anti-Marine policyA move to strip Berkeley institutions of federal funds is going forward in Congress in retaliation for last week's City Council vote telling the U.S. Marines their recruiting station is not welcome in the city.

Six Republican senators and an Orange County representative are introducing companion bills called the Semper Fi Act of 2008 that takes away $2 million, including funds from UC Berkeley and a local foundation that provides lunches to the Berkeley Unified School District.

The Senate bill was introduced today by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.; Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla.; Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas; Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla.; and Sen. David Vitter, R-La. Rep. John Campbell, R-Newport Beach., in introducing a companion bill in the House.

The bills seek to take away $243,000 from the Chez Panisse Foundation, which provides school lunches for Berkeley public schools, and $975,000 from UC Berkeley's Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service to create an endowment and catalogue of papers of Rep. Robert Matsui, a press release from DeMint's Washington office said.

A spokesperson for DeMint said today the bills would also seek to remove other earmarks, including nearly $1 million for a new ferry service and funds for public safety.

"Berkeley needs to learn that their actions have consequences," DeMint said in the release. "Patriotic American taxpayers won't sit quietly while Berkeley insults our brave Marines and tries to run them out of town."

Two Berkeley City Council members this week said they would ask the council on Tuesday to rescind the item declaring the Marines "uninvited and unwelcome intruders."

[2ndDivisionVet]

Too late, Berkeley! Hahahaha!

[Dante3]

BUMP

[MNJohnnie]

The Senate bill was introduced today by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.; Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla.; Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas; Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla.; and Sen. David Vitter, R-La. Rep. John Campbell, R-Newport Beach., in introducing a companion bill in the House.

Remember these names Freepers. In Nov we need to send them as many Conservative reinforcements as possible if we are going to have any chance of derailing the Liberalism pouring out of a Clinton/McCain/Obama White House.

[duckman]

No dems on the bill list.

[mystery-ak]

Thank you Sen DeMint....

[Hazcat]

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.; Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla.; Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas; Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla.; and Sen. David Vitter, R-La. Rep. John Campbell, R-Newport Beach

Why didn't any of these guys run for Pres?

I keep seeing Vitter's name on good legislation.

[mtbopfuyn]

And might I ask why none of them are running for POTUS?

[wolfcreek]

Stick it to them....while we still can.

[petro45acp]

Take heed...

That which the government provides, can be taken away.

Semper Fidelis!

[FewsOrange]

The bills seek to take away $243,000 from the Chez Panisse Foundation, which provides school lunches for Berkeley public schools, and $975,000 from UC Berkeley's Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service to create an endowment and catalogue of papers of Rep. Robert Matsui, a press release from DeMint's Washington office said.

Why were they receiving this money in the first place? Hopefully the sponsors can add a few thousand other earmark removals to this bill.

[LasVegasMac]

Berkeley - fruits, nuts and flakes.

Common sense - zero.

[Swiss]

How come Senator McCain didn’t sponsor it. If his past actions run true I can predict that the day it comes up for a vote he will either not vote or vote against punishing Berkeley

[MNJohnnie]

I don’t know. I wish they would have. Especially Coburn.

[DoughtyOne]

Add in a number of sactuary cities. Count me on board.

[Bitsy]

Too late, Berkeley! Hahahaha!

Yeah, too late, Berkeley. Let’s all hear it now, “Cry Me A River, cry me a river” Boo hoo, you bunch of leftist POS. Now you’re not the welcome party. Too bad, so sad.

[jazusamo]

Bump for these Repubs, they get it!

[Dilbert San Diego]

Maybe one of them will be McCain’s running mate.

I know people are upset about McCain being the front runner, but what if he picks a strong conservative as his running mate? That could change the equation.

[petro45acp]

Take heed...

That which the government provides, can be taken away.

Semper Fidelis!

[Bitsy]

and Sen. David Vitter, R-La.

I can always count on my senator!!!! Hey, Sen. Vitter!!!!

[Viking2002]

Good, damn it. This is how you begin to deal with domestic subversives - cut off the free flow of federal tax revenue that these freaks rely on. Fiscally ostracize them for attempting to stalk and harass the very people that protect their miserable, empty lives.