Do we hear anger instead of snoring in the senate? Apparently this is the case with one powerful group of senators in a recent budget hearing. As you shall see in this report, they fed up with being ignored by the self-appointed "decider."

We never see actual numbers in television statements, so here's what 108 BILLION dollars looks like: $108,000,000,000. That's $381.75 for every man, woman and child in America, assuming a population of 280 million. And this is ONLY for "emergency funding" the dictator claims he must have for the war which supposedly ended several years ago, according to him. And for rebuilding Iraq, too.

But a large chunk of this money is for rebuilding the infrastructure in Iraq ­ the very infrastructure we bombed into oblivion in the first days of the war. When the Iraq economy hit bottom, dead copper cables on utility poles became a great source of revenue and enterprising Iraqi's climbed poles, took down the wires and resold them for scrap. And now the American people are supposed to PAY to rewire Iraq?

Do we hear anger instead of snoring in the senate? Apparently this is the case with one powerful group of senators in a recent budget hearing. As you shall see in this report, they fed up with being ignored by the self-appointed "decider."

The following is from a Senate Appropriations committee hearing which I typed while it was re-broadcast on April 19th, 2008 on CSPAN television network. Statements in quotations are actual statements made by either senators or the witness (aka, professional apologist) Jim Nussle. He is the white house budget director.

Below is a summary of some incredible facts made in this hearing  boldly stated by several senators:

* White house budget director statement was labeled as "A page out of Orwell's 1984

* The rebuilding of Iraq's oil infrastructure has been completed

* A man who testified before the committee just last week about fraud and abuse with war funds has had THREE ATTEMPTS TO KILL HIM

* Crime victim's fund has been reduced to ZERO

* California will have NO AID from the federal government to deal with wildfires

* Thousands of guns sent to Iraq for their police force were lost, but have been used against US troops

* White house demands 108 BILLION dollars to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure, without a penny set aside to rebuild ANY infrastructure in Amerca

* White House has demanded emergency funding of $350 MILLION dollars a year, three years in a row with no explanation why it is always that same exact amount

* There are 60 BILLION DOLLARS here in a bank from Iraq here in America, which is doing nothing to help America

* The war will reach $1 TRILLION dollars if $108B approved

* White house budget director told his testimony and demanding statements are "snorky, dismissive and pugnacious"

* White budget director Nussle told "The game is over" and "I'm not going to sit anymore and keep playing this game" and "We've all been a part of this, and we're not going to let this happen."

* Never before in history has a war been funded on debt

* Presidents' budget doesn't have one dime for those men and women coming home with PTSD and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)

* The emergency supplement called either a bad sales job or a dirty coverup

Some people (not in this hearing) stated George Orwell either worked for the Illuminati or was one of them, but in either case he was boldly bragging about what they had in mind for the future. However, bragging can be a double-edged sword.

I for one am happy Orwell wrote  1984 and that it became popular and even required reading. Without  it, what would we be able to compare today's growing police state to?

His book attempted to show the world just how bad things can get. And he didn't even write about CCTV or RFID implants technology, because it didn't exist. All things considered, Orwell's work would be strongly counter-productive for any attempt to form a totalitarian state. For many decades it was required reading in grade school in America.

On April 15, 2008 in a Senate Appopriations committee hearing Partick Leahy (D- Vermont) vehemently told Nussle that "Enough is enough!" At one point, Leahy stated that Nussle's statements were "A page right out of Orwell's 1984." It's clear Leahy can see what the rest of us see in America's future, but Leahy is in a powerful position to do something about it. And he has been proactive as well.

The war in Iraq will reach almost 1 TRILLION dollars ­ That is, if the $108B addition for funding the decider's war known as "emergency funding" is granted by the senate. Leahy also stated that while "veterans are coming home sick and dying, the president remains focused on the war while ignoring numerous critical issues at home." Leahy also "stated it's was time for Iraq to help pay for the war."

Perhaps 1 TRILLION DOLLARS is the senate's pain threshold?

Senator Leahy stated "Thousands of handguns were sent to Iraq for use by their new police force, but that we didn't know where these guns went until they began to be used on our soldiers." Leahy also noted that the crime victims fund will be left empty, while more money will be sent to Iraq.

In response, Mr. Nussle tried to justify raiding the crime victims fund. That was a big mistake and did not go over well with anyone.

Senator Craig (R-Idaho) expressed his frustration trying to complete the committee's work this year, because of a "phenomenal catch-22" as he put it. He also sternly noted it was time for Iraq to look at HOW they spend their money, and that we helped Iraq rebuild their oil infrastructure which has now been completed. Mr. Craig firmly stated he does not find it comfortable to be funding the rebuilding of Iraq's infrastructure while America's is left ignored.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) stated that "I  hear from my constituents that clean water and infrastructure, and that this need is going ignored." He also stated that "We have un-met reconstruction needs right here in our own country." Harkin also noted "the cuts of 2008 will eliminate 15 out of 21 task forces." He noted that the cuts MUST be restored right now, not next year and that it cannot wait.

Nussle boldy replied that "We've tried to take a lot of succesful grant programs and consolidate them into four programs." Then he rambled on how "We know there are limited resources" and how Congress doesn't do their job. Harkin interrupted him to state that "a $350 million dollar cut was made because the president forced the issue in order to sign a bill."

Nussle began to complain how the troop funding has been held up for 14 months, even AFTER Harkin stated "they would add the funding for the Burn program to the troop funding."

None of Nussle's bold demands went unnoticed by the other committee members, as we shall see.

Senator Robert Bennett (R-Utah) noted the dilema we're all in, and that there are other problems that have to be tackled. He strongly stated "The previous three supplemental emergency war funding requests the white house wanted were all $350 million dollars, THREE YEARS in a row." Bennett wanted to know why this wasn't a regular budget item since it's ongoing - And How could it always be $350M EVERY year despite inflation? Clearly Bennett smells a rat, but doesn't want to call it a rat.

Further, Bennett noted that the WIC program (a program to help feed American women and children) isn't being increased as costs increase, citing numerous details why it should increase. He also noted that "farmers are being encouraged plowing under wheat fields and planting corn for ethanol."

Nussle claimed he couldn't respond to why the supplemental was always $350M, and performing as the masterful apologist that is, he stroked that committee and agreed [the yearly emergency funding request] that perhaps it should be regular line item for PL480.

Bennett noted that the FDA regulates 20% of all consumer expenditures. He added that the FDA stated it needs an increase of $375M now to do more science and add more staff, which can't be absorbed all in one year. He "warned" Nussle that this is something he wants to see happen and he will be watching. (Is this the voice of big pharma talking through Bennett between the lines?)

Ms. Mkulski on the committee stated to Nussle "I'm really disappointed with the snorky, dismissive way of your testimony." She stated that "Since you are pugnacious, I will be pugnacious." She stated that "What this administration has done has been outrageous" and tore into Nussle. I cannot type everything she said fast enough, as her flaming arrows kept flying at Mr. Nussle. She stated that "There is frustration from police officers and that they need help!"

Nussle's calm response was to repeat the decider's instructions to him, that "The bill stays within the $108B request and to support the troops." Mkulski firmly retorted "The cops program and the Burn program were eliminated" by the president. She flatly disagreed with him on his memory about history and what the president wants. She stated she will force the funding issue for the police.

Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington) also stated she shared the same frustration with the other senators. She also mentioned layoffs, mortgages, housing, health care and the president's budget as "absolutely inadequate" for problem right here at home. Further, she noted that we are building roads and schools in Iraq, but no funding for that here in America. She also shares other senator's concerns about abuse, waste and fraud of funds and that "My constituents are angry about rebuilding Iraq"

Senator Murray futher noted,  "There are 34 to 60 BILLION DOLLARS here in the bank from Iraq doing nothing to help America" and "The presidents' budget doesn't have one dime for those men and women coming home with PTSD and TBI." (TBI is Traumatic Brain Injury.) She strongly stated "The cost of caring for our soldiers is part of the cost of war" and that "The supplental emergency budget is all for rebuilding roads and bridges in Iraq, nothing here at home. Roads and bridges are needed here for people to get back and forth to support and take care of their families."

Nussle the apologist calmly stated (like a robot) he didn't take offence at her tone or others. Murray interrupted him stating "Emergency funds here are at zero." Nussle stated that "Congress isn't doing it's job" to which she corrected him. His statement only made things worse and more senators angry.

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N. Dakota) stated that what was disturbing to him, was that "If the emergency supplemental is granted, the war will reach $974 BILLION dollars, all of it as an emergency, and all of it borrowed." He noted that the president actions as "Let's send soldiers to war, and let's also have tax cuts." And that "Year after year the president claims these funding requests are emergencies." Dorgan credited the NY Times investigative reporting which found that "A 22 Yr. old received $300 MILLION dollars from the US government for a shell company in Florida." Dorgan is going to subpena him and another one like him who also received millions illegally.

Dorgan also noted the "Haliburton is running their payroll through the Virgin islands to they won't have to pay US taxes." Dorgan noted item by item the amounts for electricity and other Iraq expenditures.

In another pointed statement, Dorgan pointed in Nussle's direction and said that "A man sat in that same chair you're sitting in last week and told us about excess expenditures, and there have been THREE attempts to kill him."

Dorgan said "The game is over" and others on the panel unable to contain themselves yelled "Here-Here!" He added, "I'm not going to sit  anymore and keep playing this game" and "We've all been a part of this, and we're not going to let this happen."

Nussle kissing-up stated, "I agree with much of what you have said" but no as usual, no other specifics were answered. Nussle appeared a little scared and shaken but trying not to show it.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) said that all the domestic items are just 18% of the funding and "Never before in history has a war been funded on debt" and that "The debt is now 9 trillion and going up." She firmly stated "It will be hard to vote for a $108B supplemental that puts it on the debt." Also, she noted "Our country is $350 million dollars short for fire suppression" and that "We can't fix bridges" on the 18% and that "there is so much fraud and abuse in the Iraq funding."

Again, Nussle claimed he understands their frustration, but then added the committee "Should call up those responsible and ask them these questions." Then he claimed "The GAO monitors a high risk of regular payments but not enough is being done." Sen. Feinstein stated that "We have a part of the state that could well burn again" and that "We should have equal funding for here at home...bridges will collapseand we'll have wildfires here." She added, "I'll have a very hard voting for $108B" and that "The administration won't sit down and work it out and it's your way, or the highway."

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) statements were in line with the other committee members. He stated that he voted against this war, but then voted to fund it to end it. Now he concluded that "Sending a blank check will prolong the killing, prolong the deaths, and this isn't the way to handle it." And "There comes a point when it is no longer an emergency spending bill." He noted that rice has increased the price of rice has gone up 83% and that governments may fall because of it. He asked Nussle if the emergency food crisis is important.

Mr. Nussle then began to braig about "America's generosity to the world." Durbin interrupted saying we are not doing enough to help those starving. Over and over and over Durbin asked for a yes or no from Nussle, but he continued to rant on. A yes of no was never given.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D- Loiusiana) held up the $108B request document and asked Nussle about missing items. She asked Nussle if he knew how much was spent for national infrastructure repair, which he didn't know. Her answer to him was "It's less than $5B."

Sen. Landrieu also wanted to know why the cost-share for emergencies was changed from 75/25 to 35/65. Nussle was actually speechless. Landrieu told him to get the answer and get back to her. I'm sure Nussle knew why, but didn't want to say.

She added that "The president drove the country into a war, and then never submitted a plan to pay for it." Further, Landrieu added that "The emergency supplement is either a bad sales job or a dirty coverup, but it isn't a clean bill."

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) said he would have a hard time explaining what's happening to his grandchildren, about all the fraud, waste and abuse. He asked Nussle for explanations, which of course only resulted in more misdirection and non-answers from Nussle.

The final committee member to briefly speak, Sen. Thad Cochran (D- Mississippi) stated he supported the funding to continue to protect the troops and pay for contractors. He also labeled the war as "A battle against terrorism."

Sen, Robert Byrd , chairman, reminded everyone about the president's veto threat. And that the bill doesn't leave any room to deal with a troubled economy. Byrd said "In the next few weeks the committee will mark up a supplemental version that meets the needs of the troops AND the people, and hopes the president will listen to the people."

Frankly, I doubt it. The decider hasn't listened yet, and isn't likely to at any point in the future.

MARTIAL LAW WAS REPEALED AND BUSH CREATED HIS OWN VERSION

The repeal of the martial law provision took place when Bush got his defense budget with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, signed into law by President Bush on January 28, 2008. This was more nothing more than a compromise.

This may also be why two executive orders were signed by Bush recently. He declared that in the case of a national emergency, he alone will run the country instead of DHS. Apparently if Congress won't give him martial law power, he thinks he can take it for himself. Someone needs to remove every single pen from the white house. Or better yet, repeal the privelege of writing Executive Orders which Congress gave the president in the first place.

Ted Twietmeyer

tedtw@frontiernet.net

www.data4science.net