That seems to be the agenda of some Democrats as the spending authorization bill for current military operations is being considered.

President George W. Bush's first spending fight with the Democratic-controlled Congress may come over the Iraq war -- and avocados and cattle and flood protection.

Lawmakers are pushing to add billions of dollars to the administration's war-funding request to meet a host of unrelated demands, including those from California fruit farmers hit by freezing temperatures, ranchers whose livestock were killed in Colorado blizzards and children poised to lose their health insurance.

The potential add-ons threaten a battle in the coming weeks with the White House. Bush has never vetoed a spending measure, and Democrats, betting he won't veto one paying for the war, see a way to aid a number of constituencies seeking federal aid.

``There are urgent, emergency situations that have to be addressed,'' said Senator Kent Conrad), a North Dakota Democrat.

Senator Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican, said the extra spending is ``fiscally irresponsible and it's blatantly unseemly.''

``We're supposed to be fighting this war and paying for the troops -- making sure they have what they need,'' he said. ``We're not supposed to be paying for avocado growers.''

I thought that such pork spending was anathema to the Democrats – but I guess they figure that if they cannot stop the funding of the war, they can load it up with all the unnecessary and inappropriate special interest spending they can cram into it. After all, if these items were really worthy of the appropriations required, then they would certainly be offered independently and pass easily.

Posted by: Greg at 04:52 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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