RE: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,183991,00.html

Servicemembers deserve assistance, but NOT attached to this "stimulus" package. It deserves a separate bill that no one party can waffle on with pork attached.

That's not going to happen, ever. But it is also important to remember that these VA Funding bills are NOT for "service-member(s)", but for all "Veterans".

There has always been "Pork" in the budgets, that is what a "budget" is for, to fund all the things which need funding.

The real answer is to cut the programs such as the "Bridge To Nowhere" before they ever make it to the floor for a vote. That is something that the President can already do, with the Line Item Veto.

The only question is whether or not he will.

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That is something that the President can already do, with the Line Item Veto.

The President has a line item veto? Link please ...

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Originally posted by Bill_Fold:

There has always been "Pork" in the budgets, that is what a "budget" is for, to fund all the things which need funding.

Funding what is needed is not pork. Pork is excessive and wasteful of limited resources. A budget is a summary of estimated or intended expenditures for a specific time period. The budget normally identifies the manner in which the budgeted item is financed or paid for. You budget for requirements, not what you think would be "good to have." This type of thinking is why many have the "entitlement" mentality.

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Originally posted by I_M_Qwerty:

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That is something that the President can already do, with the Line Item Veto.

The President has a line item veto? Link please ...

Oh, sorry.

I meant "Signing Statements", like Gdubbubblehead the Dope used, illegally, many times.

Oh that's right... Obama is an Honest man who UNDERSTANDS the Constitution.

My mistake.

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Originally posted by mattkay4:

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Originally posted by Bill_Fold:

There has always been "Pork" in the budgets, that is what a "budget" is for, to fund all the things which need funding.

Funding what is needed is not pork. Pork is excessive and wasteful of limited resources. A budget is a summary of estimated or intended expenditures for a specific time period. The budget normally identifies the manner in which the budgeted item is financed or paid for. You budget for requirements, not what you think would be "good to have." This type of thinking is why many have the "entitlement" mentality.

Entitlements like the Veterans' Administration? You do know its classified as an 'entitlement', right?
I won't debate whether or not entitlements should be a part of the "recovery" plan or even a regular part of the budget. What I WILL debate is the mindset that ALL entitlements are the same, and all bad. IMHO there's at least as much of an anti-entitlement mentality as what you describe as an entitlement mentality. While you are employed...unemployment insurance seems an unnecessary expense designed to support the lazy...until you loose you job. No one is going to get rich on unemployment. No one is going to get rich on food stamps...but they might not starve to death.

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... like Gdubbubblehead the Dope used, illegally, many times.

Impressive ... and from a teacher no less. How childish ...

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Originally posted by Bill_Fold:

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Originally posted by I_M_Qwerty:

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That is something that the President can already do, with the Line Item Veto.

The President has a line item veto? Link please ...

Oh, sorry.

I meant "Signing Statements", like Gdubbubblehead the Dope used, illegally, many times.

Oh that's right... Obama is an Honest man who UNDERSTANDS the Constitution.

My mistake.

Speaking of dopes - been one lately?

You can't be the real weatherguesser, I thought he was smarter than that.

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... illegally, many times.

And you base that on? I'm sure you will be able to cite a few legal cases ... or a SCOTUS ruling ... or something ... to back that up ... you being a learned teacher and all.