The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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June 23, 2009

Our View — War funding bill had unnecessary spending

Congress seems to have fallen off the wagon again by adding $1 billion in spending for energy incentives to a bill to fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Members of both parties approved the $106 billion in spending to fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through Sept. 30 in votes last week. The bill contained $80 billion for combat operations, and $26 billion for non-military aid to countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. It also contained $7 billion to fight flu pandemics and money for replacing military equipment.

But it also contained $1 billion for a new spending program that provides $4,500 vouchers for people buying or leasing new cars that are more fuel efficient.

Of course, fuel efficiency is a worthy goal, but with the country running on a record deficit of $1.8 trillion, we should not be throwing around even a billion dollars so lightly. Congress has approved plenty of incentives for fuel efficiency in energy bills it has passed, and the president himself can adjust the mileage standards on vehicles manufactured in the U.S.

Five Republicans voted in favor of the bill along with 221 Democrats, according to Thomas voting reports. Some 32 Democrats and 170 Republicans opposed the bill. U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Mankato, voted in favor, while Rep. John Kline, a Republican representing Le Sueur County, voted against. Democrat Collin Peterson, whose district includes Sibley County, also voted in favor. Minnesota’s only senator, Democrat Amy Klobuchar, also voted in favor.

The vast majority of the spending the bill went for its intended purpose — war spending. Many of those who voted in favor probably did not like the extra $1 billion on non-war related spending, but voted in favor because they favored most of the bill. That is often the defense one hears from members of Congress. They held their nose but voted in favor for the overall good the bill does.

That’s laudable. But at some point, someone in Congress has to make a point of order to curtail some of these frivolous add-ons that not only anger the public, but cause them to lose faith in the government.

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