Bush to request $80-billion-dollar Iraq supplement: congressman

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041224/pl_afp/iraqusmilitarybudget&cid=1521&ncid=1473

BAGHDAD (AFP) - US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) is expected to seek authorisation for spending of an additional 80 billion dollars in Iraq (news - web sites), the head of a visiting congressional delegation said.


"In early February, there will be ... a supplemental appropriation in addition to the 2006 budget for defence submitted to Congress," Jim Kolbe, Republican congressman from Arizona, told reporters.


He estimated the extra funding to range between 75 to 80 billion dollars.


"It would make it the largest supplemental appropriation ... a very substantial amount that would cover not only defence but also some of the foreign assistance," said Kolbe, who travelled to Iraq with four other Congressmen.


Bush will make the new request after he is sworn in for a second term in January.

more

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. This is how we are going to cut the deficit in half. n/t

[leftchick]

2. that and more tax cuts for the wealthy. n/t

[TexasChick]

22. Can I just off myself now, please? ...

:puke:

[Gman]

6. Off the books accounting

So he can say he cut the official budget.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Talk about hemmoraging....

when will Congresspeople decide enough is enough? Who will be brave enough to ask if these funds, if appropriated, will go to protect the troops or go to rich fat cats and corporations who are the only ones to benefit from this war?

[imenja]

4. why not make it another 87 billion?

When they passed the first $87 billion funding package, didn't they promise they wouldn't be asking for any more funding?
I wonder how much is going to Halliburton?

[Javaman]

12. And didn't that 87 bill have armor for the troops????

Just were do they spend it all? Considering that only less than 5% of the total money to be used for reconstruction actually has been spent.

Sound like moron is using enron accounting...

[Postman]

5. Imagine what such a "supplement" could do for the American people..

if applied to healthcare, job creation, education.

The Iraq war is a crime against humanity.

[NNN0LHI]

9. There aren't any no-bid contracts in healthcare, job creation, or education

So we know the money won't be going there.

Don

[Javaman]

13. If you can't fire it, shoot it or blow it up, congress doesn't care.

[NYC Liberal]

7. Why bother asking?

I mean, he didn't care about getting authorization when he STOLE $700,000,000 appropriated to Afghanistan.

[AlCzervik]

8. OK, catsup and mustard are really vegetables

ok kids that are getting free luches. Better eat now cause that programs is going to be in the dustbin of history pretty soon.

[Axo1ot1]

10. So we're cutting funding to education

and social security to tighten the budget. And spending more money on a war that's already lost. Terrific.

[NNN0LHI]

11. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Welcome to DU Axo1ot1.

Don

[Javaman]

14. don't forget the slashing of the Pell grants.

[Lindsay]

15. I guess that's the Merry Christmas announcement

from BushCo to America. Sure makes me feel all festive. :eyes:

[Disturbed]

16. If the Dems had spines...

they would refuse this request. How many will refuse?

[acmavm]

17. None. They're too damn afraid of appearing 'unpatriotic'. Why can't

strings be attached to any money that is appropriated? Why can't the Senate demand that the money be spent on armor for the troops? Why can't they demand that the money be spent on getting the troops adequate supplies, clothing, ammo, guns, what the fuck ever. Because bush** sure ain't gonna pull them out. Not willingly, not ever if he can help it. So why can't the people who approve the funds demand that they be spent the right way.

Oh, and why don't they appropriate only half it it for Iraq and demand that the other half be spent on schools, roads, food, health care for AMERICANS?

[Disturbed]

18. Amerikans can fend for themselves.

Why is no one asking about the $18 BILLION that is missing?

Why should the taxpayers be saddled with more billions when that $18 BILLION has not been accounted for?

[cornfedyank]

19. $2 bucks an hour... hire them all..

$2 x 40hr x 50wk x 23,000,000people = $92 billion

2 bucks an hour would make many feel like kings.

[pinniped]

20. And what ever happened to the millions of missing CPA money?

Or was it billions?

These crooks are sure good at what they do.

[shanti]

21. MORE???????

this is becoming a regular thing, asking for more money! of course we know exactly where it's going, and it's not to iraq or the military.

[Q]

23. We're going to have to stop blaming just the Bushies for this...

...because Democrats are voting for this BS just so the mean RWingers won't call them unpatriotic. Dems MUST KNOW that this unnecessary war is draining the US treasury dry and will mean the end of social programs? If they don't know they're stupid. If they do know and vote for it anyway...they're complicit.

[tedzbear]

24. China and Japan are paying for it...

If they weren't financing our twin deficits by buying tons of treasury bonds, we couldn't afford to pay for this war.

[caligirl]

25. saw some real protests on BBC tonight, Ireland, they know how to

get the media spotlight. And it was just about the police searching door to door for bank robbers. We can;t get that kind of protest for $87 Billion or 1300 troops killed.

[bhikkhu]

26. Imagine a bonfire, 87 billion dollar bills burning

In D.C., at least it might keep the homeless warm for awhile. In Iraq, it will only finance another year of fear and death.

[TexasBushwhacker]

27. Excuse me, but didn't they JUST PASS

the 2005 budget? I could see "misunderestimating" the amount needed later in the year, but already? Seems to me that Kerry brought that issue up didn't he? That we were going to end up spending $200 Billion, and Bush said "that's one of those exaggerations". Yeah, RIGHT! We're already at $150 Billion now!

[davekriss]

31. Arithmatic Check

Lesse'

$79 billion original procurement + $87 billion second time to well + $80 billion third time spending down our future, let's see, that's $246 billion.

Ya' know, a ten billion here, ten billion there -- pretty soon it starts to look like serious money!

[HeeBGBz]

28. Just say no!

[MisterP]

29. is this on top of the 100B extra it'll cost? is this 80B figure for '06?

[Erika]

30. Bush's Redistribution of the Wealth, take from U.S. taxpayers

and give to global corporatists. Of course, our needy kids are taking a direct hit on Pell grants, but when did Bush ever care for the needy. Other than using them for cannon fodder.

[pdurod1]

32. Napolean Dynamite would say "Idiuuuut!!"

After our government gives them money, the rich buy G-bonds and now we owe them for money we just gave to them --when are people gonna wake up?

[indepat]

33. Hopefully we the people will get an accounting of how every dollar

appropriated to the Iraqi has been expended, appended with most extensive footnotes.

[Hotdiggitydog]

34. $25 Billiion here, $75 Billion there

...and pretty soon it starts adding up to some real money.

[Barkley]

35. Half-time Score: Iraq +$80 billion, Pell Grants - $300 million

Congress has frozen the size of Pell awards for the last three years at $4,050 annually — an amount given only to the neediest students.

The trouble is, nobody froze college-related expenses.

Republican leaders, say that the changes (in the Pell Grants) could save $300 million for the $12.4 billion Pell Grant program.


Federal aid cuts may affect Hopkins
Changes in student aid requirements to affect tens of thousands
http://www.jhunewsletter.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/12/03/41afa1a2044c5



Comment: Pell Grant Cuts Hurt Middle and Low Income Students
http://www.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20041223.102604&time=11%2014%20PST&year=2004&public=1


The "technical" changes will cut the number of students receiving need-based Pell Grants in FY 2005. Funding levels approved by Congress last month will freeze the maximum grant at $4,050 for the third consecutive year. Also, for the first time in history, funding will be eliminated for a student aid program; new capital for the Perkins Loan program was cut from appropriations.

Some 1.3 million students will be affected. An estimated 90,000 students could be disqualified from receiving Pell Grants and face reduced aid from federal and state aid programs, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

[IwinULose]

36. It's only money...

We can always print more!