Dems hunt for scandal in defense bills

Question: Shouldn't this time be spent in search of other scandals relating to defense appropriations?

The despicable Congressman Randy Cunningham has been convicted of his crimes and sits in jail. What does this serve other than making themselves look good.

I offer this "silly suggestion" to those digging for scandal: The Democrats used their filibuster of the 2006 Defense Department appropriations bill to strip out of the bill significant provisions relating to border security and emergency preparedness that enjoyed majority support. among the programs stripped out are:

Interoperable Communications Equipment:

$1 billion: New grant program dedicated solely to providing state and local governments with interoperable communications equipment so states can prepare in advance for a disaster like Katrina or terrorist attack

Emergency Preparedness Grants:

$1 billion: Grant program dedicated to preparing state and local governments for disasters of all sorts: natural disasters like Katrina, terrorist attacks, or pandemic events

-- Allows public health departments to gear up for avian flu outbreak or biological attack

-- Enables states and cities to work on issues identified in Katrina like evacuation routes and housing and care of refugees.

-- Funds allocated based on threat and risk with amount guaranteed to each state - .55% is the minimum (at least $5 million per state).

Border Security Initiative:

$1.1 billion: Major infrastructure improvements to allow the United States to control its border.

Keep in mind this is the Party that just released it "new and improved" security plan for America they seem to believe will usher them into power in 2006.

Scandalous? I would say so.