Some of what Gilchrest voted for

I’m taking some time this morning and actually reading through the 168 pages of HB1591, the bill funding our troops in Iraq (plus a bunch of other things.) First off, this is the section most on the Right (and other correct-thinking Americans) object to, the “pullout date”: 

SEC. 1904. a) The President shall make and transmit to Congress the following determinations, along with reports in classified and unclassified form detailing the basis for each determination, on or before July 1, 2007:

(1) whether the Government of Iraq has given United States Armed Forces and Iraqi Security Forces the authority to pursue all extremists, including Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias, and is making substantial progress in delivering necessary Iraqi Security Forces for Baghdad and protecting such Forces from political interference; intensifying efforts to build balanced security forces throughout Iraq that provide even-handed security for all Iraqis; ensuring that Iraq’s political authorities are not undermining or making false accusations against members of the Iraqi Security Forces; eliminating militia control of local security; establishing a strong militia disarmament program; ensuring fair and just enforcement of laws; establishing political, media, economic, and service committees in support of the Baghdad Security Plan; and eradicating safe havens;

(2) whether the Government of Iraq is making substantial progress in meeting its commitment to pursue reconciliation initiatives, including enactment of a hydro-carbon law; adoption of legislation necessary for the conduct of provincial and local elections; reform of current laws governing the de-Baathification process; amendment of the Constitution of Iraq; and allocation of Iraqi revenues for reconstruction projects; and;

(3) whether the Government of Iraq and United States Armed Forces are making substantial progress in reducing the level of sectarian violence in Iraq.

(b) On or before October 1, 2007, the President—

(1) shall certify to the Congress that the Government of Iraq has enacted a broadly accepted hydro-carbon law that equitably shares oil revenues among all Iraqis; adopted legislation necessary for the conduct of provincial and local elections, taken steps to implement such legislation, and set a schedule to conduct provincial and local elections; reformed current laws governing the de-Baathification process to allow for more equitable treatment of individuals affected by such laws; amended the Constitution of Iraq consistent with the principles contained in article 137 of such constitution; and allocated and begun expenditure of $10 billion in Iraqi revenues for reconstruction projects, including delivery of essential services, on an equitable basis; or;

(2) shall report to the Congress that he is unable to make such certification.

(c) If in the transmissions to Congress required by subsection (a) the President determines that any of the conditions specified in such subsection have not been met, or if the President is unable to make the certification specified in subsection (b) by the required date, the Secretary of Defense shall commence the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq and complete such redeployment within 180 days.

(d) If the President makes the certification specified in subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall commence the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq not later than March 1, 2008, and complete such redeployment within 180 days.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this or any other Act are immediately available for obligation and expenditure to plan and execute a safe and orderly redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq, as specified in subsections (c) and (d).

(f) After the conclusion of the 180-day period for redeployment specified in subsections (c) and (d), the Secretary of Defense may not deploy or maintain members of the Armed Forces in Iraq for any purpose other than the following:

(1) Protecting American diplomatic facilities and American citizens, including members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

(2) Serving in roles consistent with customary diplomatic positions.

(3) Engaging in targeted special actions limited in duration and scope to killing or capturing members of al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations with global reach.

(4) Training members of the Iraqi Security Forces.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 50 percent of the funds appropriated by title I of this Act for assistance to Iraq under each of the headings ‘‘IRAQ SECURITY FORCES FUND’’, ‘‘ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUND’’, and ‘‘INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT’’ shall be withheld from obligation until the President has made a certification to Congress regarding the matters specified in subsection (b)(1).

(h) The requirement to withhold funds from obligation pursuant to subsection (g) shall not apply with respect to funds made available under the heading ‘‘ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUND’’ for continued support for the Community Action Program and Community Stabilization Program in Iraq administered by the United States Agency for International Development or for programs and activities to promote democracy in Iraq.

Further, this bill is written in such a way that funds cannot be appropriated to Army and Navy units (including reserves) who have been deployed over 1 year’s time or not out of theater for 1 year’s time (the period for Marines is seven months.) This bill also prohibits funding for a permanent base in Iraq, which is a bad policy in my opinion. Just like we had forward bases during the Cold War throughout Europe (and still do), I favor a permanent installation in Iraq.

And as the commercials always say, “but wait, there’s more…”

• There’s almost $2.4 billion in additional Hurricane Katrina relief, particularly agricultural.
• FEMA gets an additional $4.3 billion for their operations.
• An additional $80 million is in there for tenant and rental assistance.
• It’s not just spinach producers that get federal cash from this bill. Milk producers get an additional $283 million in help, $74 million to peanut farmers, and $5 million goes to aquaculture interests.
• $50 million goes to asbestos abatement and other improvements at the U.S. Capitol.
• And there’s a sum tucked in there for Gloria Norwood, the widow of the late Rep. Charlie Norwood of Georgia. In this bill she would get $165,200. Obviously his was a sudden and tragic death, but I’d have to assume that the Norwoods would’ve had proper life insurance to take care of their needs should the unthinkable occur.

I’m also troubled by two other aspects of this appropriation. One mandates a disclosure of the justification for approval of noncompetitive contracts. (I call this the Halliburton clause.) The other is way, way more sneaky. Added as the final part of this bill is a minimum wage increase similar to that which passed the House but stalled in the Senate. This version includes some of the business tax credits as well.

It’s bad enough that I took the time to look through this bill just because I was curious what some of the money is allocated for. What REALLY scares me is just how many bills I don’t pay attention to, and the number of eyes that are necessary just to go through these and see what all is being voted on. I skimmed through the bill in maybe 30 minutes or so, it’s 168 pages of fairly complex language. I know that not all proposals are this detailed but I’m just amazed at how much reading a Congressman would have to go through just to comprehend all that’s being asked for. Obviously it’s why they each have staff, but I’m more convinced than ever that we the people have allowed this system to get way out of control and it’s past time to begin reining it in.