House Votes to Fund Obama's War Surge

[ProudDad]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Months behind schedule and stripped of money for domestic stimulus programs, legislation to fund the troop surge in Afghanistan was sent to President Barack Obama on Tuesday after disgruntled Democrats failed to block it.

Democratic leaders had to rely on Republican support to pass the almost $59 billion measure to fund Obama's additional 30,000 troops in Afghanistan and other programs. The final vote was 308-114. Twelve Republicans and 102 Democrats opposed it.

...

Last week the Senate rejected a larger, House-favored bill that would have included billions of dollars to help keep teachers on the job, provide aid for college students and enhance border security.

With the new war spending, the total amount of money that Congress has allotted for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan surpasses $1 trillion.

How did your congresscritter vote?
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll474.xml

Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/07/27-9

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And the permanent war economy rapes on...

By the way, I showed the perfect movie for this day tonight at our campaign headquarters: "Why We Fight"...You should see it too!

http://freedocumentaries.org/film.php?id=93

"We must guard against the Military-Industrial Complex" "War expenditures exceed $750,000,000,000 per year -- when war gets that profitable, you're going to see much more of it!"

God DAMN USAmerika!

[alp227]

1. Right after the Pentagon lost $8.7b in Iraq funds? This is outrageous.

Republicans complained that unemployment insurance would add $34 billion to the deficit. Why aren't McConnell, Boehner, or any GOP Congresscritters howling about a $59 billion hole for something that won't help the American people at all? Oh that's right, poor and middle-class Americans are too lazy for any good! Yet the US gets to borrow ghost money to drop bombs everywhere in Iraq and Afghanistan.

My representative, Zoe Lofgren, voted No on this violent monstrosity. Thank you Madam Representative! (Some other Bay Area reps against this: Barbara Lee, George Miller, Pete Stark, and John Garamendi.) Thank you also to the usual crowd of House liberals John Lewis, Barney Frank, Luis Guitterez, and Raul Grijalva.

[moksha]

2. Shame on everyone who supported this.

More dead on your hands. More dead on our dime.

[U4ikLefty]

3. My Rep voted "nay"!!! That's 2-for-2 today...she's getting a check.

Good going Grace!!!

[coffeenap]

4. Does anyone know why Grayson didn't vote?

He is one of our best-wondering what his point of view is. Thanks!

[madrchsod]

5. remember that 60 billion is really 300 billion dollars....

and that does`t count the costs for the veterans healthcare and other expenditures for them in the next 60 years.

[defendandprotect]

15. Valid point -- but last I noticed it, thought it was going to be $33 Billion????

[ProudDad]

6. Alas, my blue-dog execrable congress-critter voted yes

Double-alas -- I missed being in Raul Grijalva's district by 3 blocks... :argh:

[The Northerner]

7. How saddening

[earth mom]

8. War Surge. I thought that was *'s word. Guess not anymore.

Yep, we are looking at ENDLESS war. :grr:

[slay]

9. My congress critter did indeed vote to continue funding the war

and boy is he going to get an earful from me tomorrow. well, the guy who answers his phone will. for all the good it will do. sigh...

[earcandle]

10. Our house is not in order. when do we get to vote these murderers out of office and build our own

nation?

[classysassy]

11. When will the public

say enough is enough and vote those war profiteers out of office.Mr President you disappoint me

[sea four]

12. ... deleted

[ronnie624]

13. Good post.

And thanks very much for the link to the documentary, Why We Fight. I hope more people watch it. It was interesting to learn that Cheney, as Secretary of Defense in '92, initiated the almost complete privatization of the military, and that most of it was accomplished under the Clinton administration. Here is an article about it:

Cheney's Multi-Million Dollar Revolving Door

<http://motherjones.com/politics/2000/08/cheneys-multi-million-dollar-revolving-door>


The corruption of our government is built into the system through legislation and official policy. Since it is perfectly 'normal', most U.S. Americans can't really recognize it, but it is every bit as corrupt, IMO, as a government leader taking bribes or stealing from the treasury in the meanest 'third world' dictatorship.

[defendandprotect]

14. Horrible . . . but we have a shorter distance to go now .... Keep fighting to end these wars!!