No Defense appropriation until December?
posted at 12:55 pm on October 26, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Democrats have a majority in the House with more than 70 seats over the Republicans. Appropriations can’t be filibustered in the Senate, but even if they could, Democrats have a filibuster-proof majority in the upper chamber. Passing a budget is the basic responsibility of Congressional leadership, and it was due on September 30th. In wartime, the annual defense appropriation should have the highest priority over all of the other appropriation bills that comprise the federal budget plan. The Democrats have one of their own in the Oval Office, Barack Obama, who has shown no inclination at all to interfere with Congressional leadership on legislation, not even on his highest domestic agenda priorities.
So when will this Congress get around to a conference vote on the Pentagon’s appropriation? December:
Some lawmakers are growing antsy over the delay by House Democratic leaders in moving the 2010 defense appropriations conference report to a vote.
Rep. James Moran (D-Va.), a senior defense appropriator, told The Hill on Friday that the vote on the conference “possibly” will not happen until December. …
The House leadership is expected to meet with President Barack Obama next week to discuss the strategy for the pending appropriations bills.
Meanwhile, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), the Senate Appropriations Chairman, said in a short interview with The Hill that conference negotiations between the two chambers are proceeding. He also expressed confidence that the 2010 Pentagon-spending bill “will pass very soon.”
Well, don’t feel like you have to rush anything, you know. It’s not like there’s a war on, or that it’s your job or anything. Oh, wait ….
This goes directly to leadership and competence. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi missed last year’s budget deadline on purpose, to cut George Bush out of the loop. This year, they have no such excuse. They have had all year to work on the FY2010 budget. We have been at war since 9/11, and the Defense appropriation should have been passed well before the October start to the fiscal year.
If Reid and Pelosi can’t get Job 1 accomplished in 2009, voters should do their best to ensure that Democrats don’t have the opportunity to screw up any more budgets in the future.
Blowback
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Hate is not a strong enough word for what I feel for these limp-wristed, pansy, marxist Libtards in this pathetic administration.
Flyboy on October 26, 2009 at 12:58 PM
AMEN.
publiuspen on October 26, 2009 at 12:59 PM
This administration is like a rooster in the barn yard; Kicking up a lot of dust to show how masculine it is.
The real problem is that this administration is stirring up a dust storm to confuse their constituents while they conveniently ignore the issues that need attention; Such as Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, energy, economy, etc.
And clean out the national till.
Cybergeezer on October 26, 2009 at 12:59 PM
December (sp)
WashJeff on October 26, 2009 at 1:00 PM
It’s not like there’s a war going on. Oh, wait….
Oil Can on October 26, 2009 at 1:01 PM
“To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace”- George Washington
alexraye on October 26, 2009 at 1:01 PM
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app10.html
NONE of the appropriation bills were done on time…
Romeo13 on October 26, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Rush through pork laden stimulus bill.
Rush rush with that healthcare bill
while our troops are in need of reinforcements and Obama has known about the strategic needs for over a year.
I’m sorry, but this guy surpasses Carter officially in my book. Worst. President. EVER.
ace tomato on October 26, 2009 at 1:04 PM
So, is national healthcare or defense a higher priority to Reid and Pelosi?
Oh, okay.
Thanks for clarifying.
cs89 on October 26, 2009 at 1:04 PM
It’d be sweet to have some Repub declare that the Dem leadership has failed and the War on America is lost.
Christien on October 26, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Great photo of these two monsters, very appropriate for Halloween. I know they scare me every day of the year!!!
b3026 on October 26, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Guuuuuys, it takes a long time to hide all that Murtha pork.
Abby Adams on October 26, 2009 at 1:05 PM
It’s tempting to think they don’t care.
forest on October 26, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Our liberal Congress is busy trying to create an unconstitutional mandate for healthcare while it ignores it’s constitutional responsibility to fund our military.
gwelf on October 26, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Hey… wait a sec…
If’n I remember, there was not a Defense bill passed last year either… just suplementals… last defense bill was signed 7/25/07.
Sooo… with the Constitutional Prohibition: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
Oh… but wait.. its just that pesky Constitution, nothing to see here folks… don’t ask this silly question…
Romeo13 on October 26, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Budgets are for the little people.
j_galt on October 26, 2009 at 1:09 PM
People, people, don’t panic. The adults are in charge. Trust them.
Jvette on October 26, 2009 at 1:10 PM
They want to tie it to increasing the debt limit. So they’ll delay it until Dec, when no one is paying attention.
lorien1973 on October 26, 2009 at 1:10 PM
You callous idiots! These aren’t political tools. They are America’s sons and daughters.
kingsjester on October 26, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Perhaps the security force that protects the president and the morons in congress should drop their weapons and pick up picket signs, would that get them to move?
workingforpigs on October 26, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Adults in charge?
Del Dolemonte on October 26, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Political scum.
rplat on October 26, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Decemberists
Christien on October 26, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble. The progressives are working overtime to kill our freedom. Those two look like a match made in hell. Isn’t Halloween coming soon?
Kissmygrits on October 26, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Thier inaction is deplorable. Can you just imagine their outrage if the Repubs delayed a decision. Show some leadership you bunch of mini-brained morons.
rjoco1 on October 26, 2009 at 1:14 PM
DHS funding is done, and sitting on Bambi’s desk.
Romeo13 on October 26, 2009 at 1:14 PM
first- please fix the typo in the title of this thread..thx!
Anyway, of course they don’t have time. AND I do remember hot air creating a thread outlining what was coming up back in August, this is not the only bill they have to work on and pass in a timely fashion. Mark my words- Reid nd Pelosi, when the dust clears a couple of years from now as they have been banished from their leadership positions will go down as the 2 most incompetent senate house ldr.s in history, no its not a stretch to predict, BUT I’d like to see some dems whom post there step up and acknowledge that fact, and the fact that Bush got more done in his first 2 years with NO majorities then they have with their majorities….unreal.If thats not a case for clear incompetence, I don’t know what it.
imperator on October 26, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Art I, section 8: US Constitution
The Congress shall … have the power to…
raise and support armies, but not appropriate of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years.
provide for the common defense and have the power to: provide for organizing, arming, and discipling, the Militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States.
missing from this article was health care and cap and trade….
ted c on October 26, 2009 at 1:15 PM
I keep telling you people, they’re the “adults” who put the “adult” into “adult entertainment”.
When C-SPAN comes out with those “committee meetings” with the Speaker of the House, you’ll understand the delay.
Whoa! Is that “Hairy Reed” with a Ron Jeremy moustache? Talking about “polling the electorate”!
NoDonkey on October 26, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Is this the defense appropriations bill that Huck said in his Paul Harvey segment prior to Rush contains the gay hate crimes clause?
Marcus on October 26, 2009 at 1:15 PM
The Marxists don’t care about our troops. The longer they hang them out to dry, the more ecstatic their minions become.
csdeven on October 26, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Isn’t this the same one with the hate crimes against gays tacked onto it? If it is don’t worry. When Nancy’s constituents get wind of this it will become priority #1.
Just A Grunt on October 26, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Yep.
Romeo13 on October 26, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Isn’t this traitorous?
jimmy2shoes on October 26, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Dereliction of duty, to say the least.
Susanboo on October 26, 2009 at 1:20 PM
No, it doesn’t. It goes directly to treason.
progressoverpeace on October 26, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Initially, I dislike Obama for his past associations and is skewed view on the Constitution. I now dislike him because he is nothing more than a political antagonist. I have three predictions that I am willing to bet on.
1. The health care bill will be 10x more expensive than originally thought (but we won’t know that for 5 years)
2. Employers will either split up their companies or lay off employees to get under the 50 person trigger.
3. Democrats are going to be facing criticism for decades.
Fishy.Gov on October 26, 2009 at 1:21 PM
We need to be hanging the “can’t properly arm the troops” meme on the left.
They are clearly missing the proper armor or training for these choppers.
faraway on October 26, 2009 at 1:23 PM
You can’t appear on Leno while simultaneously urging Congress to fund the military, give Ogabe a break.
Bishop on October 26, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Isn’t this the bill that has the Hate Crimes Amendment attached to it?
Does it also have a debt ceiling increase?
journeyintothewhirlwind on October 26, 2009 at 1:24 PM
I hear the F-35 is in big trouble….
pseudonominus on October 26, 2009 at 1:26 PM
They’ve done this for several years now, haven’t they? There are no consequences for their behavior so they just keep repeating it. And people keep voting them back in. I don’t recall they ever passed one at all for 08.
scalleywag on October 26, 2009 at 1:27 PM
any day now the dems are going to proclaim healthcare legislation a bigger threat to national security than AQ.
Just watch.
booter on October 26, 2009 at 1:27 PM
QOTD.
chemman on October 26, 2009 at 1:28 PM
this bill needs to be called what it is… a giant dildo.
moonbatkiller on October 26, 2009 at 1:29 PM
I wonder if this is still the case now that the shoe is on the other foot.
ted c on October 26, 2009 at 1:30 PM
I know they killed the F-22. Where are you getting the information about the F-35?
chemman on October 26, 2009 at 1:30 PM
My theory:
The Dems are waiting to see what happens during the November elections. If they lose, then they have NOTHING else to lose, so go full out and pass whatever crap they can before January.
If they win, they can continue to slow play things and milk the country for whatever they can.
jeridhill on October 26, 2009 at 1:31 PM
So, when failures in the production and fielding of body armor occurred, President Bush paid for it. Now, when Congress fails to pass (and the president fails to sign) funding that would provide more armor, training and operational funds, then who’s problem is it? Congress? President Obama’s?
ted c on October 26, 2009 at 1:34 PM
The Democrats are more concerned with the real enemy: Fox News. Minor “distractions” such as AQ and the Taliban will have to wait for a more opportune moment.
jwolf on October 26, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Defense is secondary to the communist democrat America destroying plans. Why deal with defense when the ultimate control bill … “health care” … is in jeopardy? Why bother with defense when there are billions of dollars to steal from Americans in the form of Cap & Tax?
The communist democrats are merely adhering their priorities … Them, power, money and control.
darwin on October 26, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Democrats hate our military. It’s the only thing standing between them and us. If not for the military we would be under communist rule right now.
TrickyDick on October 26, 2009 at 1:40 PM
I TRULY believe that the liberal “leadership” are criminally insane.
marklmail on October 26, 2009 at 1:43 PM
These *^%%#&#*,(*&^#$#^,#$^&$&,$^@#% need to be removed from office and that goes for Urkel also!
I need a drink. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere in the world.
Old Hippie Vet on October 26, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Whats even better? Look at the Appropriations bills which ARE done…
Agriculture.. lots of biofuel stuff in there…
Energy and Water… Green…
Homeland Security… Gotta pay to keep HIMSELF safe…
Funding the Legislative branch… gotta pay his Czars…
Romeo13 on October 26, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Yeah, I picked a hell of a year to quit drinkin… may not last much longer at this rate…
Romeo13 on October 26, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Uh … not to spoil your party or anything but we are under communist rule.
darwin on October 26, 2009 at 1:49 PM
The liberals have used the military as political tools for as long as I can remember. Their hatred and disdain for the men and women serving has reached a fevered pitch in recent years.
Jvette on October 26, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Yep, and we’re the ones taking the “moneyshot”.
Laura in Maryland on October 26, 2009 at 1:49 PM
My humblest apologies for forgetting the sarc tag.
Jvette on October 26, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Oh good. The spirit of Valley Forge lives on.
And on, and on, and on.
Send lots of care packages. Include a few grenades if you’ve got ‘em.
dicentra63 on October 26, 2009 at 1:51 PM
!!!!FACE-PALM!!!!
How anyone in the nation can think that the “progressive movement”, with their new-age messiah at the helm of state, has any but malignant intentions for the nation is just beyond me.
If Barack Hussein Obama is not the Manchurian Candidate he surely missed his calling. Kruschev must be rolling over in his grave, why build umpteen thousnd ICBMs and gargantuan military foces to contest American Capitalism across the globe?
All that was needed was to foist a Hopey-Changey porgressive moron on America and watch it self-destruct!
While I strive daily to help rid ourselves of progressives in ’10 & Obama ’12, I cannot but wonder if that by then it will already be too late!
Archimedes on October 26, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Agreed.
I’m thinking criminal negligence to the point of treason. And add Obama, as CINC, to the list of those responsible for this. And all congresscritters, while not directly responsible, should be reprimanded for not making an enourmous stink about all this.
ZenDraken on October 26, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Laura in Maryland on October 26, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Talk about obscene taxation!
NoDonkey on October 26, 2009 at 1:54 PM
i am offended that Jim Moran (Dem from Virginia) could be quoted in the same paragraph with the word “military”. but then again, i’m just one of those tea-bagging, redneck, un-American clingers.
kelley in virginia on October 26, 2009 at 1:55 PM
You know, I overheard somebody say that being in the military was like visiting a rich kid’s house…you wanted to bring home all the toys.
Dark-Star on October 26, 2009 at 1:55 PM
This administration is so juvenile and petty, they can’t handle a normal plumbing problem.
Juvenile and petty-two words that cannot be used enough in describing this administration.
Cybergeezer on October 26, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Yes….just another reason why Bush pushed so hard for line item veto. These douchebags are shameless. They’ve all been there too long and are just playing the game. Term limits…..please, let there be term limits in my lifetime.
Sponge on October 26, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Uh … not to spoil your party or anything but we are under communist rule.
darwin on October 26, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Quite so.
Archimedes on October 26, 2009 at 1:56 PM
This complete trashing of the budgeting process should shock and outrage all Americans. It didn’t start with this Democratic bunch by any means, but they did campaign in 2006 and 2008 on a restoration of the budget process and passage of the appropriations on time. This is how we got to a $1.5 trillion deficit. The way these Democrats display total disdain for anything resembling a rational discussion about dollars coming in and going out is sickening.
The only thing I can conclude is that this year’s delays are due to the extraordinary effort required to hide all the earmarks or dole out enough to Republicans to keep them quiet.
rockmom on October 26, 2009 at 1:57 PM
How about evil. Evil work for ya?
highhopes on October 26, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Or that they want the military to fail in Afghanistan, and undermine morale to the point that members stop reenlisting, and officers resign, and recruitment drops.
They would celebrate that with a huge White House party.
darwin on October 26, 2009 at 2:08 PM
It’s the James Byrd and Mathew Shephard hates crime legislation that was at least that was what it was called when it was included in the Senate Armed Services Committee bill (McCain’s handiwork again).
Because, after all, how can you appropriate money for the DOD without bringing up a Texas farmer and a homosexual from Wyoming? Neither of which, I might add, had anything to do with the military. Shameful, shameful, shameful.
highhopes on October 26, 2009 at 2:09 PM
They’re in such a damned frenzy to cram healthcare down our throats which hasn’t even been crafted but they can’t seem to find the time to ensure our own troops’ “healthcare” is taken care of…as in money to fight with!!
Big John on October 26, 2009 at 2:09 PM
What was your first clue….them wetting themselves everyday?
Old Hippie Vet on October 26, 2009 at 2:11 PM
What was the quote I just read in my e-mail?
Oh yeah, here it is. “There are two parties in America – the evil party and the stupid party. I’m proud to say that I’m a member of the stupid party.” – remark attributed to conservative author M. Stanton Evans.
Enough said….
Susanboo on October 26, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Speaking of our troops healthcare; Tricare for Veterans is also on the cutting block in this new healthcare legislation.
Susanboo on October 26, 2009 at 2:16 PM
darwin on October 26, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Democrats have been dying (well not literally, just the troops they’ve stabbed in the back) to have a “Denial of Victory Parade” down Constitutional Avenue. Harry Reid has promised to spit on each and every one of them.
Now the George Bush cheated them out of one with regards to Iraq, are you so heartless to deny their “we lost Afghanistan” parade?
Mean spirited evil mongerer.
NoDonkey on October 26, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Hopefull he’ll suffer fatal dehydration before he can finish.
darwin on October 26, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Didn’t they take an oath to preserve, protect and defend?
Wouldn’t postponing defense spending which directly affect the lives or our troops be against that oath?
gophergirl on October 26, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Derelicts for sure.
jbh45 on October 26, 2009 at 2:23 PM
For dems its detract, delay, and destroy….
jbh45 on October 26, 2009 at 2:25 PM
You have to have a shred of integrity and honesty to take an oath seriously.
Otherwise, it’s as binding as an Obama campaign promise.
NoDonkey on October 26, 2009 at 2:27 PM
creates an interesting legal question…
We did NOT have a Defense bill last year…
Constitution says any appropriation for the Army can only last TWO years MAX.
Does a continueing resolution bypass this Constitutional requirment? It could be argued either way I think…
Romeo13 on October 26, 2009 at 2:30 PM
This is why Rome never allowed legions inside the city. Corrupt politicians that were self serving and had no problems sacrificing the military were terrified of confrontation.
Hening on October 26, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Maobama is trying to create a sense of defeat in our troops and manufacturing “consent” to pull out of Afghanistan.
That way he can claim to be following the will of the people and cut the losses in a unwinnable war.
Is anyone still not sure whos side this effete little community organizer is on?……….Reeealy?
Itchee Dryback on October 26, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Don’t ask this bunch to show leadership. They’re causing enough damage already!
hachiban on October 26, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Attn: RNC. This is a TV commercial that should be airing throughout the country.
hawkman on October 26, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Is one of Pelosi’s band of Marxist criminals trying to undermine and destroy this nation.
elduende on October 26, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Sigh…
First the F22 was canceled despite the inadequacies of the F35 substituted into the air superiority role. I watched a program yesterday on the Military Channel about “Red October” – an arrangement that sends U.S. pilots flying FA-18 Super Hornets to Germany to fly against top notch German pilots flying the Russian MiG 29 Fulcrum air superiority fighter. It is the ONLY place in the world where our pilots can train against the actual equipment flown by many of our potential adversaries (Russia, Syria, Iran, etc.). What our pilots learned is that in the hands of a skilled pilot the MiG 29 can down our fighters in a dogfight, even when the German pilots are asked by the U.S. to restrict some of their most aggressive moves. The F22 would have addressed some of these shortcomings in our aircraft to once gain give us a technological edge.
Next comes along this defense appropriation bill. Last week it was revealed that something like $2.6B of the bill allocated for Maintenance and Training was being diverted into pork projects including a Ted Kennedy Education Institute. Our pilots are already flying fewer hours than they did earlier this decade. Yet, as mentioned above we have surrendered our technological advantage for the long-term and now the Dems are defunding pilot skills training through curtailed flying time.
The Obama administration is certainly working hard on eliminating any vestiges of American “exceptionalism” and military superiority. It almost seems like they want to level the playing field and make sure any future conflict is a “fair fight”. Too bad that means sacrificing American lives and victory.
in_awe on October 26, 2009 at 2:51 PM
The Democrats need to be fired at all levels of government for sloth, incompetence, and corruption.
crosspatch on October 26, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Ed, what the h-e-double-hockey-sticks? Is this a different bill than HR 2647, the bill “To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, to provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees, and for other purposes.”? The conference report on it passed in the House on 10/08 and the Senate last Thursday over heavy Republican objection.
hicsuget on October 26, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Defense blogs. Big cost over-runs on F-35 predicted.
pseudonominus on October 26, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Answered my own question–this bill is HR 3326.
hicsuget on October 26, 2009 at 3:28 PM
And as predicted the hundreds of F35s that were to represent a “low cost” per aircraft alternative that would allow us to field swarms of them in combat (versus fewer but more costly and capable F22s) will turn out to be as costly as the F22 but with inferior capabilities being fielded in smaller numbers than promised due to cost overruns.
Plan on the White House funding domestic social programs through additional cuts to defense. Has anyone noticed Russia and China are investing more in their military?
in_awe on October 26, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Pres just said in Jacksonville that he was going to sign it when he went back to washington.
Squid Shark on October 26, 2009 at 3:49 PM
With something like 14 people killed, and hundreds wounded I don’t think the Dems will hold out much longer…well I hope they don’t…they probably won’t….they might but it would be a mistake…they may find a way…they probably will…
right2bright on October 26, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Really? good trick seeing as how it has not gone to conference yet…
There are other bills, some having to do with some Defense subjects… but not the defense appropirations bill.
Romeo13 on October 26, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Again, where’s all the Libtrolls I saw posting around the ‘net months ago about how the Communists in D.C. had our military’s back with appropriations with the Omnibus Bill?
Actually, I’ve totally lost track of what happened to those appropriations now anyway?
Dr. ZhivBlago on October 26, 2009 at 4:05 PM
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