New bill passed by Congress to end the war by fall of next year....?

Question

Why is there a section on paying money to spinach farmers?

And what in the hell does that have to do with Iraq funding?

Answer 1

Nancy Pelosi and company knew the bill would not pass, so the democrats bribed people to vote for this bill by adding all of this extra money for her peers pet projects. It's called pork barrel spending. President Bush will veto this.

Answer 2

Welcome to American politics! :)

Its called pork--little ( smeties not so little) goodies politicians tack onto bills to get enough votes to pass it--or (in this case) because they knowit will pass anyway. The money goes to people in their home districts, thus making them look good.

And the Republicans and Democrats both do this--to the tune of billions of dollars every year. Remember Senator Stevens (R-Alaska) and his $200 million dollar "bridge to nowhere" a year or so ago?

Actually, this is an odd case--everyone knew the bill would pass-and that Bush will veto it. So when it comes back to Congress, they may (probably will) take out a lot of the pork (and the sponsors can tell their constituants they tried to get them something--which still gets them points--they can blame Bush). Or--since if they give Bush a bill without a deadline, he's pretty well stuck with signing it--they might add more pork.

But don't worry--this is just business as usual. Now, the $500+billlion that Bsh has already squandered in Iraq--that's serious money.

Answer 3

Nothing. It has to do with helping Americans.

Look at every major funding bill passed by any Congress over the past 10 years -- military or otherwise. There will be many different provisions in it for subsidies, and special projects.

In this bill, about 5% of the total 130 billion is allocated to non-military activities.

Answer 4

This pork-laden bill is emblematic of what's wrong with our legislative process. It clearly demonstrates why EVERY president since Kennedy has asked for the line item veto.

Nancy Pelosi wants to give $25 million of American's tax dollars to CA. spinach growers. Why? Because one of them allowed fecal coliform bacteria to contaminate his crop and the USDA had to issue a health advisory. As a result, the spinach growers had a bad year.

That's not an obligation (legal, moral or otherwise) for our overtaxed citizens to fix. That's a business risk that should not be overcome by back-scratching and inside politics...by EITHER party.

Helping Americans?...Right!

Answer 5

It has nothing to do with it. It's the typical pork-barreling that is seen out of Congress all the time.

Doesn't matter, since Bush will most likely veto the bill and the Democrats know they don't have the votes to override.

Answer 6

it has to do with the libs will only allow a bill to pass if its full of their crap. no matter though, the prez will veto it!