From MySanAntonio, there comes a report that 2007 funding projects for Veterans may be held up as the Dems try to fix the "borrow and spend and earmark" mess left by the Repugs.
If you make yourself a sheep, the wolves will eat you - B. Franklin and Democracy for Houston - Join Us
Crossposted at Texas Kaos.
LINK
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison told Senate leaders that new military construction projects - including $741 million in Texas and San Antonio - could be delayed a full year if they aren't included in a stopgap-spending bill that Congress will consider when it convenes next year.
Hutchison, R-Texas, said failure to quickly approve the projects would create a hardship for military personnel who serve in combat zones or are redeploying to the United States from bases overseas.
"We can ill afford to fall behind on providing the facilities to make these things possible," Hutchison said.
[snip]
In addition, $3 billion in new spending for veterans health care programs will be delayed if Congress fails to take immediate action on the spending bill for military construction and the Veterans Affairs Department.
The construction funds in the 2007 bill are considered a down payment on a $1 billion transformation of military medicine, consolidating the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Medical Center with Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston.
It also includes the consolidation of military medical training for enlisted personnel in all armed services branches at Fort Sam Houston.
But this worthy request has run into this systemic delay, also reasonable...
[snip]
Byrd and Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., the incoming House Appropriations Committee chairman, said they'd comb nine of 11 annual spending bills for earmarks, or pork projects, that Congress failed to pass last session and were left over for the new Congress.
"We will work to restore an accountable, above-board, transparent process for funding decisions and put an end to the abuses that harmed the credibility of Congress," Byrd and Obey told colleagues in a letter.
My personnel preference is that Bird and Obey make a public gesture of support for vets who have borne extraordinary hardships under the arrogant, neglectful and blind leadership of the Bush regime. They should include these funds in the stop gap bill. I know that this will throw the door open for other such requests, but I really believe that this is moral imperative that cannot be delayed.
If you wish to contact the key mentioned in the posting see below. Click here find your own Congress Critter to contact whenever you need to....
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R- TX) 202-224-5922 202-224-0776 http://hutchison.sen...
Senator John Cornyn (R- TX) 202-224-2934 202-228-2856 http://cornyn.senate...
Senator Robert C. Byrd (D- WV) 202-224-3954 202-228-0002 http://byrd.senate.g...
Representative David R. Obey (D - WI07) 202-225-3365 http://obey.house.go...
If you make yourself a sheep, the wolves will eat you - B. Franklin and Democracy for Houston - Join Us
Crossposted at Texas Kaos.