Earmark helps businesses, not troops

[peace13]

Seattle Times special report | After being lobbied by companies making a decontamination powder, powerful U.S. senators Charles Schumer, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Arlen Specter forced the military to keep buying what it considers inferior chemical-warfare protection for the troops.

By Christine Willmsen and David Heath

Scientists have discovered a lotion that can save the lives of U.S. soldiers exposed to chemical weapons — a product vastly superior to the standard-issue decontamination powder.

Naturally, the Defense Department wants to scrap the powder and switch to the more-effective lotion.

But there's a problem: After being lobbied by the companies making the powder, several members of Congress pushed through two earmarks worth $7.6 million that forced the military for the past two years to keep buying the inferior product.
Since 1990, U.S. troops have used a skin-decontamination kit containing a dark powder that absorbs dangerous chemicals. The Defense Department has approved a more effective lotion, but earmarks ensured the old kits were still stocked.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008478150_favor07.html


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Shouldn't our troops have the best protection? Where is the outrage? The fact that our Lawmakers insist on lining their pockets before thinking of the safety of the men and women that serve this country is appalling! So sad.
Kim

[peace13]

1. Selfless kick because this is important! n/t

[peace13]

2. If only the troops got as much press around here as the preachers!

Where is the outrage?