Show Notes
Lots of requests for this Army Times report on Bush Military budget:
Issue Date: June 30, 2003
Editorial
Nothing but lip service
In recent months, President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress have missed no opportunity to heap richly deserved praise on the military. But talk is cheap — and getting cheaper by the day, judging from the nickel-and-dime treatment the troops are getting lately.
For example, the White House griped that various pay-and-benefits incentives added to the 2004 defense budget by Congress are wasteful and unnecessary — including a modest proposal to double the $6,000 gratuity paid to families of troops who die on active duty. This comes at a time when Americans continue to die in Iraq at a rate of about one a day.
Similarly, the administration announced that on Oct. 1 it wants to roll back recent modest increases in monthly imminent-danger pay (from $225 to $150) and family-separation allowance (from $250 to $100) for troops getting shot at in combat zones.
Then there’s military tax relief — or the lack thereof. As Bush and Republican leaders in Congress preach the mantra of tax cuts, they can’t seem to find time to make progress on minor tax provisions that would be a boon to military homeowners, reservists who travel long distances for training and parents deployed to combat zones, among others.
Incredibly, one of those tax provisions — easing residency rules for service members to qualify for capital-gains exemptions when selling a home — has been a homeless orphan in the corridors of power for more than five years now.
The chintz even extends to basic pay. While Bush’s proposed 2004 defense budget would continue higher targeted raises for some ranks, he also proposed capping raises for E-1s, E-2s and O-1s at 2 percent, well below the average raise of 4.1 percent.
The Senate version of the defense bill rejects that idea, and would provide minimum 3.7 percent raises for all and higher targeted hikes for some. But the House version of the bill goes along with Bush, making this an issue still to be hashed out in upcoming negotiations.
All of which brings us to the latest indignity — Bush’s $9.2 billion military construction request for 2004, which was set a full $1.5 billion below this year’s budget on the expectation that Congress, as has become tradition in recent years, would add funding as it drafted the construction appropriations bill.
But Bush’s tax cuts have left little elbow room in the 2004 federal budget that is taking shape, and the squeeze is on across the board.
The result: Not only has the House Appropriations military construction panel accepted Bush’s proposed $1.5 billion cut, it voted to reduce construction spending by an additional $41 million next year.
Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, took a stab at restoring $1 billion of the $1.5 billion cut in Bush’s construction budget. He proposed to cover that cost by trimming recent tax cuts for the roughly 200,000 Americans who earn more than $1 million a year. Instead of a tax break of $88,300, they would receive $83,500.
The Republican majority on the construction appropriations panel quickly shot Obey down. And so the outlook for making progress next year in tackling the huge backlog of work that needs to be done on crumbling military housing and other facilities is bleak at best.
Taken piecemeal, all these corner-cutting moves might be viewed as mere flesh wounds. But even flesh wounds are fatal if you suffer enough of them. It adds up to a troubling pattern that eventually will hurt morale — especially if the current breakneck operations tempo also rolls on unchecked and the tense situations in Iraq and Afghanistan do not ease.
Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, who notes that the House passed a resolution in March pledging “unequivocal support” to service members and their families, puts it this way: “American military men and women don’t deserve to be saluted with our words and insulted by our actions.”
Translation: Money talks — and we all know what walks.
Mike Webb Show Friday Night
10pm -The Family Fight: Planning To Avoid It - Making Your Last Will and Testament.
Estate lawyer Les Kotzer joins Mike to talk about the importance of making a will, the dangers of homemade wills and issues of durable powers of attorney for property and health.
11pm - Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D), Ohio will join us in studio to talk about his presidential campaign.
Midnight - Week In Review -- It's been a busy political week. Any comments on Blair's visit, the forged Niger documents, etc. all welcome on our open phones. Plus: PRAY FOR PAT. Pat Robertson is "praying" for the "right" Supreme Court -- let's turn the holy tables and compose a Prayer For Pat.
You're invited to A Barbecue for Howard Dean!
Volunteer Barbecue & Celebration
WHEN: August 9th from Noon to 3:00 PM
WHERE: Matthews Beach Park on NE 93rd Street and Sand Point Way NE
WHY: To Raise Money and Get Ready for Howard Dean's Visit on August 24th! Come Celebrate Our Progress, and Plan for the Future
HOW: RSVP by making a donation to our event (click on the 'Contribute' button)
WHAT: Hot Dogs, Chips, Soda, Speakers for Howard Dean, Poster and Sign making for the August 24th Dean Rally, & (don't forget) Dean fundraising!!!
R.S.V.P. now!!! Space is limited!!!
If you have any questions, you may contact one of us at:
CONTACTS:
Danny Burns - danny_burns@comcast.net
Bart Lovejoy - bartlovejoy@comcast.net
Bev Marcus - bevmar3@comcast.net
THE DETAILS:
RSVP by signing up and contributing online to secure your space for a minimum of $15.00 per individual, $25.00 for two (2) individuals, or $35.00 for three (3) individuals. You are encouraged to donate more! You can do this right now online! If you cannot sign-up online, e-mail one of us so that you can 'snail-mail' your donation to us. Make checks payable to Dean for America. Be sure to fill out a Dean for America Contribution Form. If you need the form, you'll find it on the Dean for America website, or we can e-mail you a form - just let us know - send checks to Bart Lovejoy - 1900 West Nickerson Street - Suite 116-185 - Seattle, WA - 98119. If you're responding via 'snail-mail', you'll need to fill out a contribution form for each check that you write when you RSVP. If you need another form, contact one of the hosts. Bring your check books and credit cards to the Barbecue! Together we can help Howard Dean become the next President of the United States of America by inspiring one another!!! You have the power to help Howard Dean take back America by making this event a success! The suggested donation in addition to RSVP price is $50.00 to $2,000.00 per individual at the event.
Come Raise Money and Organize for Fall!
Scheduled Speakers & Events
SPEAKERS:
Greg Rodriguez
Betty Means
Mike Webb
Are you interested in Speaking at this event or do you know someone who is? Please let us know by e-mailing bartlovejoy@comcast.net
EVENTS:
We'll be making POSTERS and SIGNS for the Dean Rally on August 24th. Come and get ready!
We'll hold brainstorming sessions to see how we can get as many people as possible to attend the Dean Sleepless Summer Tour Rally in Seattle! Let's go all out!
Get involved now! Sign up for the barbecue!
A big thumbs up for volunteers!
Are you interested in helping us hand out flyers at various street fairs and community events around Seattle? Write to us at bartlovejoy@comcast.net! There are farmer's markets, street fairs, and SeaFair Events coming up in our local neighborhoods that need your help for DEAN!
Do you have ideas or input for the barbecue? Please let us know!
bartlovejoy@comcast.net
To attend my house party, click on the "Contribute" button to the right, in the status thermometer.
Help raise funds for Dean for America by hosting your own house party. Click here to set up your house party now.
Click here to see how that LIBERATIN' IRAQ is comin' along!
Thursday - 10pm - 1am
MIKE WEBB SHOW
10pm - BBC's Greg Palast joins us to talk about Tony Blair's Whitehouse visit
11pm - Rep. Jim McDermott joins us to discuss the investigation of CIA's George Tenet and what is next for Iraq.
Midnight - Burgers (fat)are the latest "addiction" according to a new study. Who's YOUR dealer? (Dick's, Burger King, McDonalds, Red Robin?)
WAR, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR??? Well, James Madison said "Absolutely Nothin'...hoooah." Well, kinda...How appropriate this is today, from his papers of 1793:
"Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other....the discretionary power of the Executive is extended,; its influence in dealing out offices, honors and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds are added to those of subduing the force, of the people...inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and...degeneracy of manners and of morals...No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
HOWARD DEAN GATHERING
I hope you will join us for next month's Howard Dean fundraiser. Along with the expected cool progressive folks who will be there, join some friends who will fire things up a bit:
Scheduled Speakers
Mike Webb
Greg Rodriguez
Betty Means
This party is just an example of the kind of grass roots organizing that will win the election for the most assertive, defacto Leader of the Democratic Party: Howard Dean. It's very important that we get the wheels rolling RIGHT NOW to get the needed momentum for what will be a very contentious campaign. You and I both know George (Karl Rove) will stop at nothing to destroy his competition. It's time to take off the gloves and get that fraud out of the oval office. Here's the info on the upcoming fundraiser. Look forward to meeting you there.
Attend the Barbecue Celebration/Fundraiser and Support Howard Dean for President!
Attend Bart's Event!
Dean Volunteer BBQ - Seattle, WA
Dean Volunteer BBQ - Seattle, WA
Goal: $7,000.00
Achieved: $765.00
CLICK HERE TO CONTRIBUTE
You're invited to A Barbecue for Howard Dean!
Volunteer Barbecue & Celebration
WHEN: August 9th from Noon to 3:00 PM
WHERE: Matthews Beach Park on NE 93rd Street and Sand Point Way NE
WHY: To Raise Money, Celebrate Our Progress, and Plan for the Future
HOW: RSVP by making a donation to our event (click on the 'Contribute' button)
WHAT: Hot Dogs, Chips, Soda, Speakers for Howard Dean, & Dean fundraising!!!
R.S.V.P. now!!! Space is limited!!!
If you have any questions, you may contact one of us at:
CONTACTS:
Danny Burns 206-914-1225 danny_burns@comcast.net
Bart Lovejoy 206-914-3131 bartlovejoy@comcast.net
Bev Marcus 206-528-0500 bevmar3@comcast.net
THE DETAILS:
RSVP by signing up and contributing online to secure your space for a minimum of $15.00 per individual, $25.00 for two (2) individuals, or $35.00 for three (3) individuals. You are encouraged to donate more! You can do this right now online! If you cannot sign-up online, e-mail one of us so that you can 'snail-mail' your donation to us. Make checks payable to Dean for America. Be sure to fill out a Dean for America Contribution Form. If you need the form, you'll find it on the Dean for America website, or we can e-mail you a form - just let us know. If you're responding via 'snail-mail', you'll need to fill out a contribution form for each check that you write when you RSVP. If you need another form, contact one of the hosts. Bring your check books and credit cards to the Barbecue! Together we can help Howard Dean become the next President of the United States of America by inspiring one another!!! You have the power to help Howard Dean take back America by making this event a success! The suggested donation in addition to RSVP price is $50.00 to $2,000.00 per individual at the event.
Come Raise Money and Organize for Fall!
Scheduled Speakers
Mike Webb
Greg Rodriguez
Betty Means
Are you interested in Speaking at this event or do you know someone who is? Please let us know by e-mailing bartlovejoy@comcast.net.
A big thumbs up for volunteers!
Are you interested in helping us hand out flyers at various street fairs and commubity events around Seattle? Write to us at bartlovejoy@comcast.net! There are farmer's markets, street fairs, and SeaFair Events coming up in our local neighborhoods that need our presence!
To attend my house party, click on the "Contribute" button to the right, in the status thermometer.
Help raise funds for Dean for America by hosting your own house party. Click here to set up your house party now.
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