McCain Wouldn’t Vote For Everglades Because Of Pork But Will Fund Iraq At Any Cost
McCain Wouldn’t Vote For Everglades Because Of Pork But Will Fund Iraq At Any Cost
During a conference call with reporters today, the McCain campaign tried to push back against Florida environmental groups who have criticized Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) for opposing a bill that would have allocated $2 billion for Everglades restoration. The campaign claimed that the senator has strong environmental credentials and argued that he has “always stood for Everglades restoration,” and only opposed the 2007 Water Resources Development Act because it included “other spending”:
REP. MARIO DIAZ-BALART (R-FL): The only thing that cannot be said is that he voted against that bill because he is against Everglades restoration. … He has always been in favor of Everglades restoration. … He voted against it because of other spending. … What is totally inaccurate is to say that he voted against Everglades restoration.
But McCain’s argument that he often votes against causes he supports because those bills contain “wasteful earmarks” does not hold water. In May 2007, by his own admission, McCain voted for a $120 billion dollar Iraq war funding measure, despite the fact that it contained $17 billion in “other spending.” Speaking on the floor of the Senate the day the bill passed, McCain said he was voting for the bill “with deep reservations”:
McCAIN: We are about to pass a bill that while better than the last version, still contains billions of dollars that have nothing to do with the War on Terror. We can do better than this. The American taxpayers deserve and expect more.
During his speech McCain even listed “some of the un-requested and un-authorized items contained in this bill”:
- $110 million in aid to the shrimp and fisheries industries;
- $11 million for flood control projects in New York and New Jersey;
- $37 million to modernize the Farm Service Agency’s computer system;
- $13 million for the Save America’s Treasures program; and,
- $3 billion in agriculture disaster assistance, including $22 million to support the Department of Agriculture in implementing programs to provide this un-requested and unauthorized funding.
Despite the bill’s “irresponsible” spending, McCain promised to “vote for it nonetheless in order to support our brave men and women fighting for freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
McCain thinks funding the environment is too pricey, but he is willing to support the Iraq war at any cost.
Cross-posted at the Wonk Room.
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Ooooh, Buckie! Can Grampy McSame come out to play?
June 6th, 2008 at 4:21 pmOBAMA/WEBB ‘08
_AIO_
June 6th, 2008 at 4:25 pmSo, just so I’m clear on this, mcbush will support a quagmire, but not a swamp
June 6th, 2008 at 4:31 pmIs it just impossible for this man to open his mouth and not say something that has to be retracted or ‘clarified’ the next day?
June 6th, 2008 at 4:43 pmMcSame really lives in 1970. He has not moved passed that date on the calendar yet. His glory is that of a war hero (by losing five of our planes), his glory is that of a POW (by making propoganda pieces for the Vietcong), his glory is that of a maverick (by leaving his sick wife to marry a beer guzzling, botox chewing female robot). His glory has everything to do with the past. We should be looking to the future.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:43 pm.
McPorky… anyone?
.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:54 pmraynman Says:
Is it just impossible for this man to open his mouth and not say something that has to be retracted or ‘clarified’ the next day?
June 6th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
It’s even more fun when he denies he ever said something.
June 6th, 2008 at 5:07 pmI’m just not clear on how McIIIrd separates his ‘good’ pork, from wasteful, ’spendy’ pork?
June 6th, 2008 at 5:13 pmDoes he read the labels?
anyone check the weather in hell lately?
check out this headline on the googlenews page:
Obstructionists Block Bipartisan Climate Bill FOXBusiness
not “republican obstructionists”, but the TRUTH none the less…
whoa.
June 6th, 2008 at 5:15 pmNPR is reporting that the BIPartisan Climate Bill is dead for now. There are not 60 votes to End Debate (ie. a fillibuster).
The best hope is that the congress has “set the stage” for a climate bill after November, when the Democratic Landslide gives Pres. Obama a working majority. I hope this comes to pass…for the sake of future generations.
June 6th, 2008 at 5:23 pmYeah, I can tell you why Americans hate Congress in one word:
REPUBLICANS.
Schmucks. All of ‘em.
June 6th, 2008 at 5:29 pmHey LeftSide,
How can Americans hate congress for Republicans when the majority of them are demoncrats?
June 6th, 2008 at 5:35 pmbecause they tend to be dumbasses
June 6th, 2008 at 5:39 pmBecause the republics have stopped almost all of the meaningful bills and those that have been passed or have been fillibustered, like our good ol’ bunghole buddy, Mitch the Be-yotch, then dubya has vetoed the others. Clear that up for you?
June 6th, 2008 at 5:42 pmMcCain sez: I was against it before I was for it, that was before I was for it or against it or something like that, damn I’m so confused. Would someone help me out, may diaper needs changing again,
June 6th, 2008 at 5:42 pmHey, Upside99 - thanks for having my back.
Dipsh*t troll ROA - pay attention:
Because, when the Republicans were the majority, they flocked up everything by shouldering the Democrats out of the process and gang-raping America.
Now that the Democrats are in the bare majority, they’re STILL flocking everything up by being obstructionist.
Duh.
Now why don’t you go count your nosehairs…? Hmmm?
June 6th, 2008 at 5:49 pmLeftside,
They are making this WAY too easy, even for an ol’ Colorado Boy like me!
Have a great weekend!
June 6th, 2008 at 6:01 pmKeep it up mc same, I’d love a Obama landside in Nov. I personally know 3 repubs. that are discussted with mc same. (shhhhh…they’ll never admit they had to vote Dem…NEVER!) I got no reaction when I suggested ann coulter as mc same’s running mate…tee hee. I said they could get the woman vote and with a real good tan,the black vote. Paybacks are fun.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:43 pmWhen asked why it took her all of fifteen minutes to ask for her share of earmarks, our new Congresswoman, as admirable pragmisist, responded, in so many ords, “Everybody else is doing it.” It’s a natural response you expect to hear at a mass looting.
Therefore, the question arises: Is John McCain to be admired as the ONLY Senator in Congress not to get any earmarks, or to be scorned and not invited to the Arizona State Employees picnic? I mean, who wants to go to a state picnic and hear nothing but, “Heck, John, the ‘Save Motherhood and Apple Pie Society’ could have used that 10 million dollars?”
“JohnMcCain: If you want something for nothing, move to New Mexico.”
June 6th, 2008 at 8:07 pm“JohnMcCain: If you want something for nothing, move to New Mexico.”
Oh no, we don’t want him here either….
June 6th, 2008 at 8:12 pm2 billion for the Everglades is peanuts compared to what has already been spent in Iraq. They’ve lost way more than that.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
June 6th, 2008 at 9:00 pmEnd these stupid imperial occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq now. Stop pouring billions of our dollars down these ratholes each week. Pass an excess profits tax on the absurd oil company profits; better yet, nationalize the twelve largest oil companies, and let all Americans share in the profits…
June 6th, 2008 at 9:52 pmLOL, surely there is no one out there taking “McBush” seriously. He is such a laugh, should be a comedian!
JT
June 6th, 2008 at 11:26 pmIS your ISP SNOOPING on you?
just quickly going over those provisions, they don’t seem really nefarious or irresponsible (like say, no bid cost plus contracts).
if congress could itemize individual motions like that and vote issue by issue instead of shuttling things through big packages, wouldnt transparency increase? whats the matter?
June 7th, 2008 at 12:49 amOnce again the Old man is Mcflipflopping, this all the Reich has to offer come November, he won`t find a good running mate because there are not any straight shooters on the Reich to balace out the flipper………
June 7th, 2008 at 9:26 amDeets on McCain’s visit to the Everglades yesterday and his flip-flopping to now support increased federal spending for ‘Glades restoration here.
-AF
June 7th, 2008 at 11:18 amAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
All that porky dough cited adds up to only about a week in Iraq.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:06 am