Defense Bill by House a mixed review....

I haven't had a chance to read this whole defense bill before the House last night. I as always find it ironic how so many different issues can be thrown into one bill but that seems to be something not likely to change.

From the brief CNN article some interesting statements:

A $453 billion defense spending bill became the flypaper for issues that have eluded congressional compromise. Those included, along with the ANWR provision, $29 billion in federal aid for victims of Katrina and other storms; an additional $2 billion to help low-income families with home heating costs; and $3.8 billion to prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic. Of the defense money, $50 billion is for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also in the bill is the compromise language worked out between Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, and the White House banning the cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody.

Now for some of the cuts, ironic that a reduction of 39.7 billion is being touted as proof of a newfound fiscal responsbility given some of the new expenditures above. It' s like going to the grocery store, spending $453 dollars in groceries, most of which you didn't need, yet rather than focusing on the items you could have done without, celebrating you saved $39.70 in coupons.....

In addition to a 1% across the board decrease in all federal discretionary funding with the exception of those affecting veterans ($8.5 billion savings).

Planned spending on Medicare was estimated to fall by $6.4 billion and Medicaid by $4.8 billion. Another $13 billion would be saved from student loan programs, in part by establishing a fixed 6.8 percent interest rate instead of maintaining lower variable rates.

A late concession to lawmakers with interests in the durable medical equipment industry (not to mention I'm sure appreciated by those elderly on oxygen) 1.9 billion dollars worth of cuts were restored.

Same with physicians a scheduled 4.6 percent cut in physician payments under Medicare that would have had a 7.3 billion dollar savings was eliminated.

So, the principle of robbing Peter to pay Paul continues......