U.S. troop funds diverted to pet projects

[Desertdog]

2.6 billion more reasons to vote them out of office.  Even better, would be to charge them with treason.

U.S. troop funds diverted to pet projects
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/15/troop-funds-diverted-to-pet-projects/

Study finds $2.6 billion taken from guns and ammunition

By Shaun Waterman THE WASHINGTON TIMES

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.

[Standing Wolf]

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.

Well, yeah, but just wait until next year.

[Ryan in Maine]

 

[MechAg94]

The administration's budget requested $156 billion for the regular O&M account and $81 billion for O&M for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill passed by the Senate cut $2.4 billion from the regular account and $655 million from the war O&M fund.

Senate appropriators insisted that the O&M accounts, despite the cuts, do not shortchange the troops.

"The operation and maintenance title is fully funded," Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii Democrat, said during the debate on the bill. "There is no shortage. ... The committee is deeply concerned that the critical operational needs of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are met with the finest equipment available."

Looking at this quote from the 2nd page, anyone thinking this might just be someone playing politics with headlines?
There are more details of the earmarks on the 2nd and 3rd pages.

[Desertdog]

There are more details of the earmarks on the 2nd and 3rd pages.

The question from me is; What in the hell are they doing taking money from any military bill to pay off their big contributors.  Actually, what in the hell are they doing using taxpayers money to pay off their big contributors

[MechAg94]

Exactly, the facts seem to be more about out of control earmarks and pork which is not unusual these days.  The difference is this is piled into a defense appropriations bill.