Ron Paul returns $100k to Treasury

[Kidlicious]

HUH? The best interests of the USA were already violated when the scum passed the spending in the first place. His job now is to make sure the interests of the people he represents in the USA are protected. That's how the system works.

Such typical teabagger type argument. Do you honestly believe that his hands are clean? You might as well say you protect the victims of muggers by stealing money from muggers.

[Kidlicious]

This is what is suppose to pass for patriotism?

[DinoDoc]

That's how the system works.

Given the fact that there are Congressmen (few I will grant) who hold to thier principles more than Paul does on pork spending by requesting 0$ in pork spending, I have to question the absolutism of this statement.

[DinoDoc]

Note that said scum does not include Dr. Paul. He votes against our obscene appropriations bills.

Before or after he adds 40 million$ (2009) to the price tag of government all by his lonesome with pork?

[HalfLotus]

You're confused about earmarks. Earmarks do not add to government spending, they simply direct where it will go. The money's already approved by appropriations and will be spent - if not by Congress then by the executive.

The idea, apparently held by Kid, that the executive branch will make better use of the money is a flimsy argument to say the least.

[Ming]

Such typical teabagger type argument. Do you honestly believe that his hands are clean? You might as well say you protect the victims of muggers by stealing money from muggers.

He votes against those types of appropriations... And he does so because he's against them, not to get relected. Are his "hands clean"... I guess that depends on your definition. Is he perfect or a saint... Hardly, because he is a politician. But in areas like this, he is far better than most.

[Kidlicious]

He votes against those types of appropriations... And he does so because he's against them, not to get relected.

That's what you say. It doesn't appear that way to me.

Are his "hands clean"... I guess that depends on your definition. Is he perfect or a saint... Hardly, because he is a politician. But in areas like this, he is far better than most.

If you want to argue that it's morally justified for him to try to get everything for his state that his state pays in in tax that's one thing. But people are talking about him running for president. His supporters like to wave american flags and put their opponents down as unamerican. If their so american why don't they make some sacrifices? As JFK said, "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

[Kidlicious]

You're confused about earmarks. Earmarks do not add to government spending, they simply direct where it will go. The money's already approved by appropriations and will be spent - if not by Congress then by the executive.

This is what adds up to government spending, spending. The way you cut spending is to cut spending. This isn't obvious to you?

The idea, apparently held by Kid, that the executive branch will make better use of the money is a flimsy argument to say the least.

Seeing as how I don't agree with your politics it's a matter of taste who spends the money.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Given the fact that there are Congressmen (few I will grant) who hold to thier principles more than Paul does on pork spending by requesting 0$ in pork spending, I have to question the absolutism of this statement.

Bingo.

Don't throw the whole "they already allocated it, so he's doing what's best for his constituents". He obviously doesn't believe what he's saying. He likes to thump his chest and say he's against pork spending, while at the same time allocating pork so he can point and say this is what I did for you.

He's a massive hypocrite, a classic do as I say, not as I do politician.

[Kidlicious]

I have to eat my words. It seems like the Tea Party doesn't even like him. They don't believe his story about his pork either.

[Kidlicious]

Ron Paul's earmark requests for FY2009
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science:
• $250,000 for Galveston Economic Development Partnership, for Galveston Center for Business and Technology Development to help spin off private investment at National Lab of the University of Texas Medical Branch
• $500,000 for City of Bay City for NuBlac Rehab Center (youth rehabilitation)

Subcommittee on Defense:
• $3.5 million for study of health risks of exposure to vanadium

Subcommittee on Military Construction:
• $2 million for City of Bay City for NuBlac Rehab Center (serving minority veterans)

Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development:
• $41.073 million for Army Corps of Engineers to deepen and widen Texas City Channel
• $21.6 million for Army Corps of Engineers to dredge and reconfigure jetties at mouth of Colorado River
• $7.02 million for Army Corps of Engineers to dredge Freeport Harbor
• $16.021 million for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain Galveston Harbor
• $1 million for Army Corps of Engineers for construction at Cedar Bayou
• $3.297 million for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain Texas City Channel
• $200,000 for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain Cedar Bayou
• $13.038 million for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain Matagorda Ship Channel
• $42.018 million for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain Gulf Intercoastal Waterway
• $3.026 million for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain channel to Victoria
• $600,000 for Army Corps of Engineers for feasibility study for Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay
• $400,000 for Army Corps of Engineers for feasibility study for Feeport Harbor
• $100,000 for Army Corps of Engineers for feasibility study for Lower Guadalupe River Basin
• $400,000 for Army Corps of Engineers for preliminary engineering and design study at Freeport Harbor.
• $21.7 million for Army Corps of Engineers for construction at Houston Galveston Navigation Channel
• $2.165 million for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain Trinity River
• $6.979 million for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain Wallisville Lake
• $1.3 million for Army Corps of Engineers to study flooding around Colorado River
• $11 million for Army Corps of Engineers for construction at Wharton and Onion Creek
• $3.026 million for Army Corps of Engineers for Chocolate Bayou
• $533,000 for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain channel to Port Bolivar
• $41.623 million for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain Houston Ship Channel
• $1.01 million for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain Double Bayou
• $3 million for Army Corps of Engineers for construction at Clear Creek
• $500,000 for Army Corps of Engineers to maintain Port Palacios
• $100,000 for Army Corps of Engineers to study sand placement near Brazoria County shoreline

Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment:
• $5 million for Fort Bend County for City of Kendleton water and sewer improvements

Subcommittee on Homeland Security:
• $10 million for Coast Guard to improve Galveston Rail Causeway
• $8.8 million for FEMA for drainage at Cove Harbor in Aransas County
• $2.2 million for FEMA to reconfigure and stabilize Capano Causeway Pier
• $500,000 for FEMA for Aransas County drainage master plan
• $35 million for FEMA for drainage in Friendswood
• $10 million for FEMA for drainage project for Friendswood/Clear Creek
• $10 million for FEMA for drainage project for Friendswood/Clear Creek
• $5 million for FEMA to recycle household hazardous waste in Friendswood

Subcommittee on Transportation:
• $1.96 million to replace buses in and around Victoria
• $2 million to renovate transit maintenance facility in Galveston
• $5 million to reconfigure Texas Clipper training ship
• $25,000 to install security cameras at Fox Run Apartments in Victoria
• $2 million to beautify Galveston Seawall and support Transit Access Program in Galveston
• $3.6 million to construct inter-modal transit facility in Victoria
• $3.5 million for analysis of commuter rail alternatives in Galveston
• $10.3 million for City of Bay City for NuBlac Youth/Community Center
• $2.2 million for City of Bay City for improvements to electrical wiring in low and moderate income housing

Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education:
• $90,000 for Victoria Chamber of Commerce for business/career-related education for youth
• $248,942 for UTMB for employee wellness program for small businesses
• $1.748 million for University of Houston-Victoria for DNA testing and genetic diagnostic lab
• $300,000 for Bay City MEHOP for fund reinstatement of mobile unit
• $200,000 for Bay City MEHOP to recruit nurse practitioner
• $1.92 million for UTMB to study muscle mass loss in aging vs. microgravity (NASA related) at International Space Station National Lab
• $750,000 for Houston Memorial Hermann HealthCare system for Life Flight operations center
• $26 million for Washington, D.C. "Reading is Fundamental" program
• $10 million for Boston, Mass., "Reach Out and Read" national center

So why is this all so important that some other politician couldn't find a better way to spend it?

[HalfLotus]

This is what adds up to government spending, spending. The way you cut spending is to cut spending. This isn't obvious to you?

I'm with you on cutting spending. But attacking earmarks isn't the way to do it. You can get rid of every last earmark, and the money will still be spent elsewhere. The focus should be on our behemoth appropriations bills where the 'spending' occurs.

Also I would strongly suggest cutting spending on our $1 trillion/yr. global military empire long before cutting domestic 'pork'.

[Kidlicious]

I'm with you on cutting spending. But attacking earmarks isn't the way to do it. You can get rid of every last earmark, and the money will still be spent elsewhere. The focus should be on our behemoth appropriations bills where the 'spending' occurs.

Also I would strongly suggest cutting spending on our $1 trillion/yr. global military empire long before cutting domestic 'pork'.

Lead by example. Otherwise don't expect to be president.

[HalfLotus]

Paul fights the root of the problem, appropriations. You're whacking away at the branches, earmarks.

[Imran Siddiqui]

He doesn't really fight anything. He knows its going to pass with or without him. He can hold himself as opposing spending, while feeding at the trough.