Some in GOP regret pork-stuffed highway bill

[truthpusher]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9917109/

Some in GOP regret pork-stuffed highway bill
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Measure features 6,000 pet projects, including ‘Bridge to Nowhere'
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By Shailagh Murray
The Washington Post
Updated: 10:22 p.m. ET Nov. 4, 2005
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The highway bill seemed like such a good idea when it sailed through Congress this summer. But now Republicans who assembled the record spending package are suffering buyer's remorse.

The $286 billion legislation was stuffed with 6,000 pet projects for lawmakers' districts, including what critics denounce as a $223 million "Bridge to Nowhere" that would replace a 7-minute ferry ride in a sparsely populated area of Alaska. Usually members of Congress cannot wait to rush home and brag about such bounty -- a staggering number of parking lots, bus depots, bike paths and new interchanges for just about every congressional district in the country that added $24 billion to the overall cost of maintaining the nation's highways and bridges in the coming years.

But with spiraling war and hurricane recovery costs, the pork-laden bill has become a political albatross for Republicans, who have been promising since President Bush took office to get rid of wasteful spending.

"Does it make all the difference in the world? No," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), one of four senators who voted against the highway bill. "But there's a great deal of symbolism associated with whether we're going to add $24 billion to the debt in unwanted and unnecessary pork-barrel projects."

(snip)

complete story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9917109/

[kurth]

1. Yeah, like they "regret" their big tax cuts and fat salary increases

[Erika]

2. and they let the pork stay

as they cut out lunches for 43,000 school kids.

[Canuckistanian]

3. Remember Shrub said a while back that he might veto this bill?

Then we hear nothing, and it "sails through Congress".
I smell manipulation here and it ain't coming from the porkmeisters.

[depakid]

4. Do these same people regret slashing Medicaid, school lunch's

food stamps, etc while looking to pass even more tax cuts?

I doubt it.

[Pirate Smile]

5. WP: Some in GOP Regretting Pork-Stuffed Highway Bill

Some in GOP Regretting Pork-Stuffed Highway Bill

By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 5, 2005; Page A01

The highway bill seemed like such a good idea when it sailed through Congress this summer. But now Republicans who assembled the record spending package are suffering buyer's remorse.

The $286 billion legislation was stuffed with 6,000 pet projects for lawmakers' districts, including what critics denounce as a $223 million "Bridge to Nowhere" that would replace a 7-minute ferry ride in a sparsely populated area of Alaska. Usually members of Congress cannot wait to rush home and brag about such bounty -- a staggering number of parking lots, bus depots, bike paths and new interchanges for just about every congressional district in the country that added $24 billion to the overall cost of maintaining the nation's highways and bridges in the coming years.

But with spiraling war and hurricane recovery costs, the pork-laden bill has become a political albatross for Republicans, who have been promising since President Bush took office to get rid of wasteful spending.

"Does it make all the difference in the world? No," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), one of four senators who voted against the highway bill. "But there's a great deal of symbolism associated with whether we're going to add $24 billion to the debt in unwanted and unnecessary pork-barrel projects."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/04/AR2005110401840.html

[ovidsen]

6. Close the barn door. The horses have escaped! n/t

[wildcat78]

7. It's beef

"Someone's pork is somebody's beef" - Sen. Boxer on NPR

[AndyTiedye]

8. So They Are Going to STRIP ALL THE TRANSIT FUNDING

The real reason the Repubs wanto to give this bill another look is
that they just noticed that it includes funding for mass transit,
and they want to cut all that out.

Real people drive cars or go by plane. :sarcasm:

[roguevalley]

9. Alaskans regret and don't want the bridges. But Uncle Satan would

die if we give it up.

[Vinca]

10. Is he the weasel who threw the fit on the Senate floor?

Doesn't this all have to do with the darn bridge being named after him? He couldn't possibly give a rat's behind about the 50 people on the island.

[roguevalley]

14. yes. Ted Stevens.

[swag]

11. "Making pigs of themselves, then regretting it," is how economist

Mark Thoma characterized this story at his weblog:

http://economistsview.typepad.com/

[Maggie_May]

12. They don't regret cutting funding

I don't understand it they don't what abortion. They will just kill our children slowly without medical assistance food stamps and school lunch programs. They have no problem giving tax breaks to the rich spending money on useless bridges and bike paths. I guess I'm just not moral enough.

[hatrack]

13. They can all kiss my ass - cry me a FUCKING RIVER, hypocrites!!

"Ooh, ooh, it was shameful what we did! It's so shocking!

Our behavior almost makes the Kona coffee at Dean and DeLuca which the Pfizer lobbyists left at my office taste bitter!

Our behavior almost slightly diminishes the savor of the filet mignon which I was treated to last night by Grover Norquist!

Our behavior approaches the point at which I begin to feel vaguely guilty each time I cash one of my paychecks!

But I suppose I'll get over it in time!!"

[tabasco]

15. NEWSFLASH ! to corrupt GOP senators ...

YOU HAD THE OPPORUNITY TO SHOW MORAL COURAGE AND YOU DID NOT !!

Cowards and curs the lot of them !