"A Credit Card for War, But No Cash for Teachers?" Honda, Woolsey, Grijalva

[madfloridian]

From Huffington Post today:

A Credit Card for War, But No Cash for Teachers?

Once again, war is being paid for with a credit card while investments in our children's future are tossed aside. These investments -- $10 billion for teacher jobs, $1 billion for summer youth employment, $5 billion for Pell grants, $701 million for border security -- were cut from the war funding bill coming to the House floor despite being fully paid for and not adding to the budget deficit. They have been jettisoned in favor of further borrowed war spending. Today's bill doesn't include anything to maintain first responder, police or firefighter positions despite the dramatic need for those jobs in every community in America. We believe this is fiscal insanity and a moral tragedy.

Consider the following: Despite widespread shortfalls in education funding around the country, the $10 billion that would have saved 140,000 teacher jobs across the nation -- all of it offset -- has been cut. The $37.12 billion in war funding, on the other hand, is not paid for. Every single penny adds directly to the national debt. This is not good for national security. This is continuing a failed policy at the exact wrong time.

The bill before the House denies our children the right to an education and takes away their future earning power. It also adds to the economic burden they will eventually have to bear. This is a moral outrage. We find it unacceptable that this Congress places a greater priority on foreign wars than urgent domestic needs. We have compounded our moral short-sightedness with utter fiscal irresponsibility.

David Obey had some words about it.

Congress Approves $60 Billion U.S. War Funds Amid Afghan Policy Complaints

The vote amounted to a surrender by House Democrats in their bid to attach the unrelated spending to the bill, including $10 billion in aid to state governments to prevent thousands of teacher layoffs.

..."Obey’s Opposition

Obey, who in his leadership post was the chief author of the bill, said he would vote against it because he doesn’t support the administration’s war policies. “I cannot look my constituents in the eye and say that this operation will hurt our enemies more than us,” he said.

Obama said today the leaked war documents “don’t reveal any issues that haven’t already informed our public debate on Afghanistan -- indeed they point to the same challenges that led me to conduct an extensive review of our policy last fall.”

Priorities out of order.

[midnight]

1. I agree. Let's invest in our children, and not in war.

[madfloridian]

6. We won't invest in them though.

There are other priorities.

[katandmoon]

2. K&R.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. More than priorities are out of order.

It's called FUBAR.

[stray cat]

4. Check out the money in the stimulus for maintaining teaching positions

and money for innovation as well. I don't know any other professions that have benefited to the same degree with government money this past year. I think its great but don't piss on it.

[madfloridian]

5. Much of the education stimulus money has strings attached...

the strings that will benefit and fulfill the agendas of foundations like Gates, Broad and Walmart.

I speak for teachers because we have been on the firing line even more the last year and a half.

We are insulted and treated badly.

If other professions or job descriptions feel that way, they should be talking out.

[madfloridian]

7. The amendment that came closest to passing ......

"A series of attempts by war critics to attach provisions to the legislation targeting Obama’s Afghanistan policies failed following his threat to veto any legislation that would undermine his role as commander in chief.

The amendment that came closest to passing would have required the administration to submit a report explaining how it intends to end U.S. involvement in the Afghan conflict. The administration has said it plans to begin bringing troops home in July 2011, depending on conditions in Afghanistan. It hasn’t specified when the withdrawal would be complete.

The amendment won the support of most House Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, though with 162 votes it fell well short of the majority in the 435-member chamber needed for approval."