Where’s the Outrage?

Now, I’m not going to be cynical or sarcastic but President Bush has done the best job of saying one thing then doing another. No other President comes close.  Let’s look at the State of the Union.

Bush said:

America is leading the fight against global poverty, with strong education initiatives and humanitarian assistance. We’ve also changed the way we deliver aid by launching the Millennium Challenge Account. This program strengthens democracy, transparency, and the rule of law in developing nations, and I ask you to fully fund this important initiative.

Bush did -

President Bush promised $5 billion per year for this Millennium Challenge Account.  He has never gotten close.
2006 - $3 billion
2007 - $3 billion
2008 - $3 billion
2009 - $2.225 billion (according to his latest budget request)

Bush said:

Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions.

Bush did -

After touting this “great” technology in his State of the Union address, the very next day, the Bush Administration cut funding for the program.   Well that isn’t completely correct, he really cut the program, entirely.

Bush said:

The people’s trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks — special interest projects that are often snuck in at the last minute, without discussion or debate. Last year, I asked you to voluntarily cut the number and cost of earmarks in half. I also asked you to stop slipping earmarks into committee reports that never even come to a vote. Unfortunately, neither goal was met. So this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I’ll send it back to you with my veto.

And tomorrow, I will issue an executive order that directs federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by Congress. If these items are truly worth funding, Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote.

Bush did -

Have you looked at Bush’s latest budget requests?  There are several beautiful White House earmarks tucked in there.  President Bush often denounces the propensity of Congress to earmark money for pet projects. But in his new budget, Mr. Bush has requested money for thousands of similar projects.

He asked for money to build fish hatcheries, eradicate agricultural pests, conduct research, pave highways, dredge harbors and perform many other specific local tasks.

The details are buried deep in the president’s budget, just as most Congressional earmarks are buried in obscure committee reports that accompany spending bills.  [NYT]

Tags: Bush Administration //