House passes defense bill.
Today, the House passed a new $696 billion defense authorization bill that includes a pay raise for troops. AP reports:
President Bush had rejected an earlier version of the legislation because he said it would expose the Iraqi government to expensive lawsuits.
The new bill, which passed, 369-46, would let Bush grant Iraq immunity under the provision, which otherwise guarantees that U.S. victims of state-sponsored abuse can sue foreign governments in court. Iraqi officials objected to the measure because they said it would have subjected Baghdad to high-dollar payouts in damages from the Saddam Hussein era.
The administration now supports the bill, said White House spokesman Tony Fratto.
”We appreciate that the House moved quickly to address the serious concerns the president had,” he said.
The revised measure also makes the 3.5 percent pay increase for troops — included in the original bill — retroactive to Jan. 1.
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28 Responses to “House passes defense bill.”
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Gotta love our democratic congress -with friends like these, who needs enemas.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:34 pmHow are we gonna pay for this Roger?
January 16th, 2008 at 5:39 pmWhich government spending should be cut to pay for it?
Is it time for another tax cut for the top 5%?
Oh how about a tax cut for big corporations?
Maybe China or Saudi Arabia has some money they can loan us.
This is good news for our troops. This bill includes a much-needed pay raise for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as vital Wounded Warrior legislation that assists our wounded, injured, and ill service members with their transition of medical care and benefits from the military to VA when they become veterans.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:40 pmAlso, enlistment/retention bonuses can now be freed up as well.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:43 pmImmunity for Iraq. Once again, the spineless, gutless, cowardly Democrats caeis in to Bush. Send your Representative some ping-pong balls, if they don’t get with the program, throw their sorry asses OUT!
January 16th, 2008 at 5:46 pmabove should be caves in. $&$((% spell check not working.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pmhooray for the service men and women and the wounded as well. The immunity clause is complete BS.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pmRoll over little doggie, roll over.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:53 pmGiven our troops a raise will no doubt infuriate the anti-military reich-wing.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:58 pmWhat a worthless group of losers……….
January 16th, 2008 at 6:00 pmGreat for service people pay raises, now….where is the rest of the $696 BILLION DOLLARS going???????????????????????????????
January 16th, 2008 at 6:02 pmNo one can even imagine how much money this is we don’t have.
*(1) football field 3 feet deep with $100 bills is (1) billion. Do the math.
Support the Impeachment of Dick Cheney!
Today is National Call-In Day
The call is FREE and only takes a minute of your time.
1-800-828-0498 (White House Switchboard, ask to be connected to your Rep.)
Tell your Representative to support HR 333 The Impeachment of Dick Cheney!
If you’re more ambitious call the members of the House Judiciary Committee (found here: http://judiciary.house.gov/CommitteeMembership.aspx)
January 16th, 2008 at 6:08 pm#
Great for service people pay raises, now….where is the rest of the $696 BILLION DOLLARS going?
Comment by wisedup — January 16, 2008 @ 6:02 pm
##
Good question. I know part of it is for pay raises, part for enlistment/retention bonuses, and part for the Wounded Warrior Act, as well as for some VA services. But that still doesn’t add up to $696B.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:11 pmUh, how hard would it be to put a provision in to say that US victims can sue for abuses that occured after the freaking invasion? And how many US troops were abused by Saddam Hussein anyway?
January 16th, 2008 at 6:12 pmToday, the House passed a new $696 billion defense authorization bill
This. is. the. problem.
The defense budget needs to be cut by 25% IMMEDIATELY. And another 25% shortly thereafter.
There is no reason on God’s green earth to be spending more than the rest of the world combined on defense. Period.
The fact that the Democrats voted almost unanimously to pass this monstrosity tells me unequivocally that we’re doomed.
As long as our top priority is defense you can GUARANTEE that more wars will be in our future.
And you can also guarantee that Social Services, Healthcare, Reconstruction, Education, Clean Energy Innovation will suffer.
The defense budget is a cancer that has metastized. We may not have long to live.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:13 pmFourteen Defining Characteristics of Fascism
# 4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:16 pmI really don’t understand why the immunity clause was so important anyway. This should have passed the first time around.
“Sovereign nations are normally immune from lawsuits in U.S. courts. An exception is made for state sponsors of terrorism and Iraq was designated such a nation in 1990. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, however, Congress passed a law and Bush issued a decree stating that Iraq was exempt from such lawsuits.
After that exemption was passed, the administration challenged and successfully overturned a $959 million court ruling for members of the U.S. military who said they were tortured as prisoners of war during the first Persian Gulf War.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22420862/
January 16th, 2008 at 6:17 pmRemember that Hillary Clinton is the recipient of the most donations from military contractors by far. Surely she voted Yea.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:18 pmWhy in the hell does Congress give in to Bush — just because he vetoed the Defense Bill passed by both Houses? Let’s push them to do the right thing, not constantly enable Bush and his warped wacko agenda.
Don’t forget to call Congress to support impeachment. Make everyday “Call for Impeachment Day.” See #14 above.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:18 pm#17 Andromeda,
You are right but you don’t take it far enough.
America must break its chains to militarism. Completely.
It is time to dismantle the military, That’s right. At the same time it is time to keep our moneyed interests out of foreign countries.
Corporate interests need these appropriation bills to keep coming. It’s their ticket to keep other countries impoverished.
Read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. It is time for us to realize the extent of what imperialism has done in our name.
Then come around to realizing that this country was founded was founded by revolution. The question then becomes…………….what of today?
January 16th, 2008 at 6:46 pmthis is absurd. they are giving a known embezzler money that goes for bribes? There can be only one answer. The people voting for these bribes are getting kickbacks.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:54 pmthey have sold us out again folks
Anybody know where a complete breakout of the SIX HUNDRED NINETY SIX BILLION dollars might be found?
I’d like to see how much is for rebuilding our military equipment, how much for troop raises, and how much for star wars horseshit for central europe.
January 16th, 2008 at 7:06 pmOnce again the Democratic-controlled Congress gives Bush everything he wants for his war.
Sorry, but Democrats own the war, too.
January 16th, 2008 at 7:51 pmAtrios nailed this one.
I comment here, in my own inimitable fashion.
Cheers,
January 16th, 2008 at 7:58 pmRead Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. It is time for us to realize the extent of what imperialism has done in our name.
Comment by civil behavior — January 16, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
Read it.
If only we could buy airtime on the networks and read it to the country. They need to hear it.
January 16th, 2008 at 8:06 pmAre they back already? Gosh, wouldn’t know it from the press coverage. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a second party and a truly independent press? What a dreamer I am. Do we have any say in continuing to pay for these corporate wars?
January 16th, 2008 at 8:51 pm“Oh how about a tax cut for big corporations?”
That is a great idea! Nothing would stimulate the economy and create jobs and increase government revenue better than a corporate tax cut. In fact, since the combination of corporate taxes and personal taxes is double taxation maybe we should eliminate corporate taxes. After that, we should do away with the IRS and initiate a national sales tax. I love living in Florida simply because I do not have to fill out two damn income tax forms every year, as I had to do in over taxed, so-called progressive New Jersey, the Garden State.
January 17th, 2008 at 7:23 amhELL, Why doesn’t the Democratic Congress give Bush and his Crime Family immunity while they’re at it?
January 17th, 2008 at 2:36 pm