"I never saw Congress mangle the defense budget as badly as this year,"

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

U.S. troop funds diverted to pet projects

Senators diverted $2.6 billion in funds in a defense spending bill to pet projects largely at the expense of accounts that pay for fuel, ammunition and training for U.S. troops, including those fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to an analysis.

Among the 778 such projects, known as earmarks, packed into the bill: $25 million for a new World War II museum at the University of New Orleans and $20 million to launch an educational institute named after the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.

While earmarks are hardly new in Washington, "in 30 years on Capitol Hill, I never saw Congress mangle the defense budget as badly as this year," said Winslow Wheeler, a former Senate staffer who worked on defense funding and oversight for both Republicans and Democrats. He is now a senior fellow at the Center for Defense Information, an independent research organization.

Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, called the transfer of funds from Pentagon operations and maintenance "a disgrace."

"The Senate is putting favorable headlines back home above our men and women fighting on the front lines," he said in a statement.

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/1...o-pet-projects/

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

$20 million to launch an educational institute named after the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.

Ummmm The Kennedy's are multi-millionaires. They can pay for it themselves.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

$20 million to launch an educational institute named after the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.

Ummmm The Kennedy's are multi-millionaires. They can pay for it themselves.

Nope... anytime they can screw over tax-payers they will.

Throw the @#%%& out.

[Peikko 1,575]

Nice one Bill. I like it.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

$20 million to launch an educational institute named after the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.

Ummmm The Kennedy's are multi-millionaires. They can pay for it themselves.

Nope... anytime they can screw over tax-payers they will.

Throw the @#%%& out.

The @#%%& is already "late".

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I read an article in Wired this month that says that a lot of defense spending on R&D projects has been heavily scrutinised and a lot of projects either cancelled or had their budgets severely cut back.

[jimnlena 8]

Socialists in control of Whitehouse and Senate and House, And you are surprised budget is whacko??? Myself I have been looking at starting company in Russia! They have more freedom than we do now!!

[almaty 19]

bullsh!t...the opposition just walked out of the duma due to putin corrupt elections..nothing happend liked that since the Bush brothers left office..

so leave...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I read an article in Wired this month that says that a lot of defense spending on R&D projects has been heavily scrutinised and a lot of projects either cancelled or had their budgets severely cut back.

As well they should. Nothing worse than Congress spending money on stuff the military no longer has any intention of using, just to stimulate the local economy. I think some of that is the result of the Top-Down Review started by Rumsfeld back in 2001. Hopefully, the current administration is doing something similar. Who was it that said, "I maybe a hawk, but I am a cheap hawk."

Edited October 16, 2009 by Lone Ranger

[Peikko 1,575]

I like that, cheap hawk

[Otto 83]

And this type of 'pet/pork' projects is new how...?

Every spending bill (defense or otherwise) has them - it is expected as 'part of doing business in Washington' - how is this year any different?

[Azzudiin 26]

Defense spending is a joke, we spend more then all the other countries of the world combined. The worst part is only 3% of the defense spending budget goes to actual people in uniform for payroll.

Close all our bases overseas, stop being the worlds police, bring all our people home except for marine gaurds at consulates. Give every person in uniform a 100% raise. Reduce defense spending to around 200 billion a year, use the 600 billion in savings to pay off debt to China.

[Dan J 277]

Socialists in control of Whitehouse and Senate and House, And you are surprised budget is whacko??? Myself I have been looking at starting company in Russia! They have more freedom than we do now!!

I suppose its all relative, in Russia, speak out or run against Putin's party and you will get all manor of grief, and possibly end up in jail.

[alienlovechild 75]

The worst part is only 3% of the defense spending budget goes to actual people in uniform for payroll.

Give every person in uniform a 100% raise. Reduce defense spending to around 200 billion a year, use the 600 billion in savings to pay off debt to China.

3%? Not even close.

"The military pay account surpassed the procurement account in the early 1990s. During the "peace dividend" period in the 1990s, military pay declined marginally, while the procurement account plummeted. With some jus­tification, this period is sometimes referred to as the "procurement holiday."

Since September 11, 2001, both the military pay and procurement accounts have increased. How­ever, the military pay account has remained far larger. This budget history suggests that service members and their support organizations are at least as effective as defense companies in lobbying Congress and that defense companies support a strong pay and benefits package for the troops as much as any other patriotic Americans do."

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/bg2022.cfm

Give a 100% raise why? Recruiters have finally met all goals for quantity and quality for the first time since 1973. Thank Obama for making the economy bad enough that it makes the military an attractive alternative.