DoD Gets Its Way

Three stories of note today for something I wrote about previously. The Congress is dealing with the health care bill, saving Cash for Clunkers, and defense spending, all at once, prior to going on recess at the end of the day today. Defense spending was approved yesterday, and SecDef Robert Gates's excellent budget plan was essentially thrown out, save for the F-22 "Raptor" fighter jet program.

$636 Billion Defense Budget
Obama had warned them
House Dems Caved



President Eisenhower once said in his farewell speech that the nation had to be aware of the "Military-Industrial Complex;" In other words, the vast network of lobbyists that have Congress' ear when it comes to approving defense projects and getting pet projects for Senators or Representatives' home districts. For example, say John Murtha (D-Pa) wants to get a contract to build engines for the F-35 fighter jet in his home district so that he can get a few hundred people employed. While that's not a terrible thing to get jobs for your constituents, it's a problem when the committee you chair pushes earmarked defense spending to, say, Northrup Grumman, because the lobbyist that asked for it has them as a client.

Oh, wait, that actually happened.

I was watching an episode of "The Simpsons" recently, from Season 6 -- "Bart's Comet." The comet is threatening Springfield, so the Congress assembles in Washington to pass a bill to help them, but before it's called for a vote, a Senator raises his hand and makes a motion to attach some unwanted earmark to the bill. Then they all hate it and vote the bill down. Cut back to anchor Kent Brockman, who says, "Democracy. Doesn't Work."