Congressman Patrick McHenry delivered the following statement on the House floor today regarding the Democrats’ $124 billion emergency war bill to fund our troops’ operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Democrats’ legislation directs over $13 billion in federal funds to spinach growers, tropical fish breeders, peanut storehouse construction, and livestock programs. A transcript of the Congressman's statement is below:
"100 million for citrus growers? What does that do for our fighting men and women? $74 million for peanut storage? Well, that may be grand for peanut growers, but how does that help and protect our American way of life and our men and women in harm's way?"
"$25 million for spinach? Even kids don't like spinach – but Washington politicians do – so they can take their pork barrel projects home."
"But here's the kicker in this supplemental appropriations bill – millions for livestock. That's the kicker because livestock funding is literally ‘pork’ for pork."
"This is the most hypocritical bill we've seen in decades here on the House floor. It's wrong for our troops in battle, but it is a great gift for Washington Democrat politicians."
"All the while we debate here on the floor, the Speaker of the House goes to raise money with fat cats in New York City. It is wrong for America and the American people should know about it."
A Washington Post editorial today noted that, “As it is, House Democrats are pressing a bill that has the endorsement of MoveOn.org but excludes the judgment of the U.S. commanders who would have to execute the retreat the bill mandates. It would heap money on unneedy dairy farmers while provoking a constitutional fight with the White House that could block the funding to equip troops in the field. Democrats who want to force a withdrawal should vote against war appropriations. They should not seek to use pork to buy a majority for an unconditional retreat that the majority does not support.”
Congress Daily reported yesterday that, “House Speaker Pelosi [was] confirmed to appear at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) regional fundraising event in New York City [last night].”*
Below is a sampling of Democrat earmarks included in our nation’s “emergency war funding” bill:
$3 billion: Crop Disaster Assistance $400 million: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program $283 million: Milk Income Loss Contract Program $120 million: Shrimp Fishing $100 million: Hurricane Citrus Program $74 million: Peanut Storage Subsidies $50 million: Capitol Power Plant $25 million: Spinach Growers $25 million: Livestock Producers $20 million: Frozen Farmland $5 million: Tropical Fish Breeding
* “With Votes Still In Doubt, House To Debate Supplemental,” Congress Daily, 03.22.07
