Half-a-Trillion an Hour

Half-a-Trillion an Hour

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today voiced his disapproval of a stealth omnibus spending bill by voting against the Democrat-backed Continuing Resolution, H.J.Res. 20.

"Today we saw nearly half-a-trillion dollars of the public's money spent in an hour," Boozman said. "Because of the rules handed down by the leadership, we spent less time debating how to spend this huge amount of taxpayer's money than most Americans spend figuring out their monthly grocery budget."

Boozman's chief concern with the resolution was the cut, by over half, of the funds for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) programs - which could place BRAC funding for the 3rd District at risk.

"I am extremely concerned with the cuts to BRAC, especially how that will translate to the transition of the 188th Fighter Wing to its new mission and aircraft," Boozman said. "The Congress has asked the Department of Defense to make the military more efficient through BRAC, and now we are asking them to do it with less than half the money.

"Protecting the funding levels promised the 188th will continue to remain a priority of my office," Boozman said.

The bill spends $463 billion and, in an unprecedented move, does so with no input from the opposition party. Supporters of the legislation claim it eliminates earmarks, an issue which has grabbed headlines recently. However, language in the bill allows for exceptions which could allow certain earmarks to receive funds despite the restriction. One of the most glaring examples: protection of a $44.6 million plan to build an indoor tropical rain forest in Iowa.

"Instead of an Iowa rain forest, I am pretty sure we could have used that money toward ensuring the men and women of the military have enough money to put a roof over their heads," Boozman, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee said.

The legislation also includes a cut of $1.4 billion in the Basic Housing Allowance, representing a shortfall in the Department of Defense request for families.

"It is unconscionable that, during a time of war, there are those who would write legislation which would short-shrift the families of the men and women currently in harm's way," Boozman said.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=56802