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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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  EARMARKS SHOWDOWN 
13

House Bill Loaded With $6.5B the Pentagon Doesn't Want

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(Newser) – They gave up on the F22, but Congress is still trying to give the Pentagon $6.9 billion in planes, helicopters and ships the Defense secretary doesn’t want, the Washington Post reports. House Democrats have loaded the defense spending bill with earmarks for programs Barack Obama and Robert Gates have specifically targeted as waste, and the White House says if it isn't pruned Obama may veto it.

About $2.75 billion of the extra expenditures consists of earmarks from individual lawmakers. Half of that was requested by private firms that have donated a total of $789,190 over the past 2½ years to various appropriations committee members. And, thanks to an unusually restrictive debate rule passed yesterday, the majority of the unwanted funds are guaranteed to get through the floor debate.

Obama wants to kill the VH-71 presidential transport, a $500 million copter that, in Gates' words, allows the president to
Obama wants to kill the VH-71 presidential transport, a $500 million copter that, in Gates' words, allows the president to "cook dinner while in flight under nuclear attack."   (PRNewsFoto/AgustaWestland)
The F-18 Hornet, seen in this file photo, is one of many unwanted gifts Congress wants to hand the Pentagon.
The F-18 Hornet, seen in this file photo, is one of many unwanted gifts Congress wants to hand the Pentagon.   (AP Photo/Courtesy Barry Hull)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks to reporters in Iraq in this file photo.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks to reporters in Iraq in this file photo.   (AP Photo/Loay Hameed)
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13 comments
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Timinator2K
Jul 30, 09 8:46 AM CDT
$6.5B? That's what? Almost a day's worth of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
Fromthemiddle
Jul 30, 09 9:01 AM CDT
Sigh...fine...I"LL take the copter... Reply
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+2
Fondue
Jul 30, 09 9:07 AM CDT
Shall we get out the line-item veto? Reply
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
DavoMax
Jul 30, 09 9:19 AM CDT
I wish
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
Reader64481089
Jul 30, 09 10:22 AM CDT
I am with you 100% on that. a line item veto would come in most handy...and it badly needed.
Vote up! Vote down!
+1

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