Military Projects Are Popular Part of Stimulus

[livvy]

Military Projects Are Popular Part of Stimulus

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 16, 2009 10:48:29 EST

The $12.8 billion in military and veterans construction programs included in an $825 billion economic recovery package unveiled Jan. 15 may be one of the few areas of bipartisan agreement in the bill.

The construction money — $1 billion for veterans hospitals and cemeteries, $7.5 billion in new military construction and $4.5 billion to improve existing facilities — is part of an economic stimulus plan that aims to create jobs, cut taxes by about $275 billion, and add benefits and health care for the unemployed.

The bill represents an agreement between the incoming Obama administration and House Democratic leaders.

Specific projects are not named, in part to avoid complaints about lawmakers funding pet projects and in part to make sure the money is spent quickly. Instead, the Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs would decide where the money would go, based on estimates of what projects are ready to begin, according to House aides involved in preparing the bill.

The 258-page American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is the top priority for Democrats.

more...


http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/01/military_defense_projects_stimulus_011609w/%2e

[ixion]

1. oh yeah... just what the military needs... more money.

:eyes: :argh:

[Phred42]

2. We cannot justify THIS: