Tipsheet

House Dems Pad War Funding Bill

From the AP:

Democrats controlling the House are seeking to pad President Barack Obama's war funding request with $23 billion to help school districts avoid teacher layoffs.

Man, those unions are really getting some serious help heading into this fall's elections.  I guess Dems know they're in trouble and need their foot soldiers to be on the march...

They're also pressing for $6 billion to make up for a funding shortfall in Pell grants for low-income college students and lesser amounts to hire border patrol agents and help Mexico fight drug cartels.

The money is included in yet-to-be-released war funding legislation that's headed for a committee vote on Thursday.

In the Senate, which is considering companion war funding legislation, Republicans are poised to try to add billions of dollars to boost security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The bipartisan press for additional money comes despite promises of election-year belt tightening.

I guess I might be too much of a purist for modern politics.  It'd be so nice if a "war funding bill" could just go to FUND THE WAR. 

Obviously we need more border security, but Democrats should have to be confronted with the issue separately, and no politician--Democrat or Republican--should be allowed to cower behind funding the mission of our hardworking troops to push through politically unpopular agenda items.