DeLay Flip-Flops On Returning Pork To Pay For Katrina, Rita

[JABBS]

Shifting his commentary on the state of the federal budget, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) now says the government could slash billions in "wasteful spending" to help pay for hurricane recovery.

In an column in the Sept. 26 edition of the Washington Times, DeLay wrote that lawmakers can trim $35 billion or more to pay for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

It's an obvious flip-flop from what DeLay said on Sept. 13, when he suggested that Republicans could claim an "ongoing victory" as fiscal conservatives, because there was no fat left to cut in the budget.

It's also a flip-flop from statements made a week ago, when DeLay was unenthusiastic about the idea of nixing pork and pet projects from the recent $286 billion federal highway bill -- as had been suggested by Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), and agreed to by several key Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

At the time, DeLay defended the $64.4 million of pork going to his district as "important."

***

Why the change of heart? According to a story in DeLay's hometown Houston Chronicle: "Budget hawks criticized DeLay for even hinting that the federal budget is lean."

DeLay, in yesterday's piece in the Times, pretended he was leading the charge on cutting waste to pay for Katrina.

Spinning himself as a "conscientious fiscal conservative," DeLay blamed Democrats for "outdated polices ... <strong>of past decades</strong>," and offered that House Republicans would be "advancing a budget initiative that pulls up from the roots billions of dollars of wasteful spending programs that have taken hold in the federal budget for far too long."

Congrats, Tom, you finally hopped on the bus.

***

This item first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.

[Roland99]

1. Heh...someone putting DeLay's feet to the fire for a change!

How's it feel to be nearly "exterminated", Bugman?

:rofl: