Again, Senate Democrats Insert Pork into War Emergency Bill

What is the best way to force the President to sign a bill he so desperately wants, but cannot veto it because it will upset American voters? Attach some pork!

Again, in the Senate, the political party in charge, using the same tactics, have attached more than $20 BILLION in pork-related projects to the "emergency" war spending bill. It was supposed to be $102 billion for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Democrats have added $14 billion for Hurricane Katrina aid and more than $4 billion for "emergency farm relief."

This compares with the House Democrats putting at least $21 billion for spinach growers, peanut storage, and citrus farmers, and other pork-related projects.

Republican Senator Coburn
"Maybe this is what Democrats mean by ‘phased redeployment."

Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.,
It is "common sense and good economics. Funding for the war is not the only critical need worthy of the supplemental spending." The war "must not obliterate every other concern."

If these are really critical projects that needed "emergency" funding, why include $100 MILLION for the Democratic and Republican party conventions? Of course, people would realised that this line item can be found under the section, "Katrina recovery, veterans' care, and for other purposes." Hmm, I guess conventions fall under "for other purposes."

And for some reason, the Capitol's guided-tour program needed $3.5 million in emergency funds, and somehow Nevada needed $20 million for infestation control. Are cockroaches invading Las Vegas? Ask Senator Harry Reid.

Better yet, there's a line item giving emergency funds for Christmas trees. Are they becoming extinct???

How can Democrats equate $24 million for sugar beets growers and $95 million for dairy producers with providing troops with needed ammo and body armour?

Oh wait... it's an emergency. Seems to me that the word "emergency" should be re-defined as "essential pork."