Below is the very interesting and informative CNN transcript of how GOP Bush rubber stamp Senator Mitch McConnell "set aside $20 million to be spent next year on what the bill calls a commemoration of success in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Here is credible documentation to verify that story:
Behind the Victory Money Lies Vietnam
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: October 5, 2006
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 GÇö The mystery over who championed legislation authorizing $20 million in spending for a celebration of United States success in Iraq and Afghanistan was resolved on Wednesday.
The office of the Republican whip, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, acknowledged that he had pushed the bill out of lingering anger that Vietnam veterans had to GÇ£sneak backGÇ¥ home after that war and out of a desire that this generation of troops be thanked...
http://www.courier-j...
Iraq celebration plan spurs jokes
McConnell aide defends proposal
Saturday, October 7, 2006
By James R. Carroll
jcarroll@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
To some Democrats, it smacks of the kind of hubris that got the United States into Iraq.
But to Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., it's nothing less than the proper recognition due the nation's armed forces at the end of a difficult mission.
At issue: An authorization to spend $20 million that McConnell inserted into a defense spending measure to pay for a celebration in Washington at the end of U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan...
Paula Zahn of CNN talks about in the transcript below "it might have been lost in all the Mark Foley headlines... $20 million of that money is a top story because it has a lot of people outraged."
Iraq war veteran Paul Rieckhoff says "It's absolutely outrageous" and Democratic Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez of California says "In the House, where I serve, unfortunately, the Republicans don't allow debate, many times we don't get to read the bill. We have to take their word for what is in the bill. They give it to us, printed, as required, at the start of the debate. The debate is only one hour long, and we have to vote. So none of us get to actually see the bill most of the time."
Please forward this on because ALL people who will be voting in November have to be aware of how Sen. Mitch McConnell and the GOP leadership are wasting money that could be spent on protecting the troops and know how the GOP leadership is irresponsibly and arrogantly passing bills through Congress!
When impressionable, moderate, and independent voters see this, they should be even more outraged and should be even more inclined to vote for a Democratic candidate for change and accountability as opposed to a Bush rubber stamp GOP candidate which is only a vote for "more of the same" of what we have now!
Mitch Dworkin
http://securingameri...
ANALYSIS: The 2006 Elections are "An Accountability Moment!"
http://www.securinga...
Listen to Gen. Wes Clark fight for Dems on Sean Hannity's radio program:
An excellent example for all of us to follow and what we all need to be doing to help fight against extreme right wing Neocon smear propaganda which will help our local candidates to win their races!
http://securingameri...
Gen. Wes Clark's endorsement of Jim Webb against George Allen
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PAULA ZAHN NOW
Aired October 5, 2006 - 20:00 ET
ZAHN: So, it might have been lost in all the Mark Foley headlines, but Congress has finally finished work on a massive $532 billion defense spending bill. It funds the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and a whole lot more. Now tonight $20 million of that money is a top story because it has a lot of people outraged.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN (voice-over): Tucked inside the military spending bill, just approved by Congress, is a line that's getting lots of attention. It set aside $20 million to be spent next year on what the bill calls a commemoration of success in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lawmakers originally intended to spend the money this year, but things in Iraq and Afghanistan haven't quite worked out that way. No problem, Congress simply moved the 20 million from this year's defense budget into next year.
Of course, while everyone's waiting for the commemoration to begin, the military could be spending the $20 million on other more immediate needs. For example, based on U.S. army estimates, the $20 million will buy 12,500 bulletproof vests for our soldiers to wear. Or 55,555 fully padded helmets or it could buy more than 80 fully armored humvees for them to ride in. $20 million would pay disability benefits for at least 454 wounded soldiers for one full year.
At a time when the Bush administration is proposing cutting $13 million for research into artificial limbs, that $20 million could greatly improve the quality of life for soldiers returning home. The Defense Department estimates its spending $100,000 a minute in the Iraq conflict. So $20 million would keep the war effort funded for only about three hours and 20 minutes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: We have put together a top story panel to consider whether that $20 million could be better spent. Paul Rieckhoff is an Iraq war veteran. His book, "Chasing Ghosts," is about his experiences. He's also the founder of the group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Democratic Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez of California is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Good to see both of you.
Congresswoman can you explain to me why Congress would unanimously agree to set aside $20 million for a victory fund for wars that everyone agrees are very far away from being called victories? REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ (D), CALIFORNIA: Well, Paula, this actually goes to the process of how a law is made in the Congress. In the House, where I serve, unfortunately, the Republicans don't allow debate, many times we don't get to read the bill. We have to take their word for what is in the bill. They give it to us, printed, as required, at the start of the debate. The debate is only one hour long, and we have to vote. So none of us get to actually see the bill most of the time.
ZAHN: All right, so in this case --
SANCHEZ: It's very difficult to see what gets tucked in there.
ZAHN: All right, so are you telling me, in this case, you had no idea that $20 million was set aside for a victory fund?
SANCHEZ: I had no idea that it was in there. No idea because the Republicans are the last ones to do the bill and put it before for a vote. And many times, like this past week, as they were trying to get out on Friday, they put in a rule, in the House, called marshal law, which means the required 24 hours between when the bill comes out of the rules committee and goes to debate on the floor was done away with so they could come straight out, they would print it up and they would start debate.
They usually only give us an hour, and we have to vote on it and we can't get our hands, there's not even a copy of it. There's one copy that we're desperately trying to look through to see if the major agreements are actually in there, because most of the time they break their agreements and they try to put in things that are wrong.
ZAHN: All right, Mr. Rieckhoff, I know you're not a political analyst here, but as a veteran, you have a very strong feeling about this issue. You've just heard the congresswoman saying probably a lot of people voted for this bill and they had no idea this $20 million was tucked in there.
PAUL RIECKHOFF, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: It's absolutely outrageous.
ZAHN: Do you think it's true, what she just said?
RIECKHOFF: It may be. But I took the time to read my enlistment contract when I joined the military and I think the people in Congress could take the time to read the legislation about the most important issue facing our country, war. There's no more important decision than sending people to war and we need money for things like traumatic brain injury research.
We need money for care coming home at the V.A. We need money for equipment, for translators. We don't need money for a victory party right now. What's going on in Congress? Where are their priorities right now? All I hear is excuses time and time again. We need action. We need results that impact the lives of veterans, troops and their families immediately.
ZAHN: Let me read to both of you what Senator Mitch Mcconnell had to say about the controversy. He said, quote, "This measure passed unanimously when it was considered as part of the FY 2006 Defense Authorization Bill. But now, less than a year later, some Democrats, who initially supported this amendment, seem hostile to the idea of publicly thanking our troops for their bravery upon their return home. The Democrats seem to have been for it before they were against it.
RIECKHOFF: This is politicians playing politics with the war and the troops again. We've seen it throughout this war. The Democrats, the Republicans, both of them throw the war back and forth like a political football. They love to stand up next to the troops and a wall of camouflage when they're up for reelection, but when it comes to really supporting the troops, putting their money where their mouth is, making tough decisions in an election year, they're invisible. This is just more excuses. We need action. This is rhetoric. And it's really unacceptable.
ZAHN: Congresswoman Sanchez, do you concede that it is both sides that are using the war as a political issue?
SANCHEZ: I would say that if we didn't have the House and the Senate and the White House all controlled by the same party we would have some balance to what is going on. Either the Senate controls or the House controls, for example, by the Democrats would allow us to say no, you can't bring that bill forward until we have a chance to read it. You can't just push it through the way you've been pushing through everything. That's what we would be allowed to do. But in the House we have no shot at that. We don't have a choice. I would say to Paul, we don't have a choice on when we vote. They tell us when we vote.
ZAHN: Paul Rieckhoff, obviously she's not willing to concede the Democrats bear any blame for this. Just a quick final thought and then we move on.
RIECKHOFF: It's a lot easier than getting shot at in Baghdad. I mean, I hear this rhetoric all the time about how tough it is for politicians. It's tough for 140,000 troops in Iraq right now and for their families. We need the leaders in Washington to step up.
ZAHN: Paul Rieckhoff, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, thank you for both of your perspectives tonight. Appreciate it.