July 31, 2009
The Porkers Fight Back
"Yesterday, I was interviewed by Ward Carroll, editor of Military.com for a podcast. We discussed the congressional actions on the Defense Department's authorization and appropriations bills, focusing on the atrocious way porkers like Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., use readiness money to pay for their hardware ad-ons—in this case the F-22 Raptor. We also talked about the porkers' resurgence in the House version of the DoD appropriations bill. While giving way in the face of serious opposition on the F-22, Congressman John Murtha, D-Pa., slathered up the bill big time with several hundred earmarks and more C-17s, F-18s, VH-71s, and a missile defense program with a Johnstown, Pa. connection. (See Taxpayers for Common Sense on this story.)
Murtha has become such a symbol of everything that is wrong with how Congress exploits the defense budget for selfish and corrupt purposes that we should perhaps call these practices ""Murtha-ism.""
Military.com Podcast Interview with Ward Carroll.
Tags: Pork
Director, Straus Military Reform Project, CDI at POGO, POGO
Mr. Wheeler's areas of expertise include Congress, the Defense Budget, National Security, Pentagon Reform and Weapons Systems
The goal of the Straus Military Reform Project is to secure far more effective military forces and much more ethical and professional military and civilian leadership at significantly lower budget levels.
We would like to thank Philip A. Straus Jr. and family for their generous support.
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