THIS is why I hate govt officials

[OldGuysRule]

Maybe this will help a little. There seems to be some confusion on how the appropriations process works. There are two steps. 1) The approval of the funding of the overall amount and 2) the appropriation of the amount.

Lets take the Department of Transportation and I'm making these numbers up. Let's say during the first step 100 billion was allocated to the DOT.

Of that amount 50 billion is set aside for road projects. Congressmen will submit their request for their constituents for the 50 billion dollars and try to run them through committee. There must be a federal program from which the funds can be drawn.

Some will be accepted and some will be rejected.

In the end the ENTIRE 50 billion will be used up most likely by Congress. These are the earmarks. If the money isn't used for earmarks then the executive branch gets to spend the money. Remember 50 billion was allocated and there isn't a clown in DC that will say, "COOL! We only used 25 billion of the 50 billion!"

[big_tiger]

Maybe this will help a little. There seems to be some confusion on how the appropriations process works. There are two steps. 1) The approval of the funding of the overall amount and 2) the appropriation of the amount.

Lets take the Department of Transportation and I'm making these numbers up. Let's say during the first step 100 billion was allocated to the DOT.

Of that amount 50 billion is set aside for road projects. Congressmen will submit their request for their constituents for the 50 billion dollars and try to run them through committee. There must be a federal program from which the funds can be drawn.

Some will be accepted and some will be rejected.

In the end the ENTIRE 50 billion will be used up most likely by Congress. These are the earmarks. If the money isn't used for earmarks then the executive branch gets to spend the money. Remember 50 billion was allocated and there isn't a clown in DC that will say, "COOL! We only used 25 billion of the 50 billion!"

This answers my question.
Well that's fucking dumb; lets set a random ass number and have everyone fill it up with garbage. That needs to stop... well I understand it can't stop because that's what congress is there to do. Which is funnel money that comes into the government, but that's the issue THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE ANY MONEY

They should vote on the bare minimum to keep the government running, debate over how many people they need to hire to offset the growing population, but stop there! No setting a bill t have X amount of dollars, when it only cost Z. Set it up where when you run a surplus (over 15%) of funds you can have earmarks to spend that money. The earmarks are voted one by one. They don't go to research of Seal killing in Texas, but items like updating military bases, and national parks.

I know I am crazy for thinking like that.

[Sgt Beavis]

On a side note, the ongoing production of the F-22 has been canceled, much to my disagreement.

BTW, Have you checked the projected cost of the F-35 lately?

Again I think the F-22 is an outstanding bird. We just can't afford it.

But you are right on the F-35. The cost are getting out of hand. Just one more example of how our military procurement process is totally out of whack. However, at least with the F-35, the costs are shared by multiple international partners. IMO the F-22 would become VERY viable if we allowed it to be sold to our closest allies like Britain, Japan, and perhaps Australia. Unfortunately Congress has blocked even attempts of selling a stripped down version.

[Gargamel]

Again I think the F-22 is an outstanding bird. We just can't afford it.

But you are right on the F-35. The cost are getting out of hand. Just one more example of how our military procurement process is totally out of whack. However, at least with the F-35, the costs are shared by multiple international partners. IMO the F-22 would become VERY viable if we allowed it to be sold to our closest allies like Britain, Japan, and perhaps Australia. Unfortunately Congress has blocked even attempts of selling a stripped down version.

Agreed...

My fear is we will keep losing international partners as we seem to be doing as of late....

To be honest, when factoring in the cost overruns and schedule issues... we may be looking at an F-35 at near the cost of an F-22... What a cluster F...

Definitely agreed in the aspect that we should have sold the crap out of a dumb-downed F-22 to close allies.... Oh what could have been.

At least the tooling was saved....

[Vertnut]

Harry Reid pulled this monstrosity last night...it's D-O-N-E. The irony of it, is that he couldn't muster enough DEMOCRAT votes to ram it through.

[big_tiger]

Agreed...

My fear is we will keep losing international partners as we seem to be doing as of late....

To be honest, when factoring in the cost overruns and schedule issues... we may be looking at an F-35 at near the cost of an F-22... What a cluster F...

Definitely agreed in the aspect that we should have sold the crap out of a dumb-downed F-22 to close allies.... Oh what could have been.

At least the tooling was saved....

Can you not hold a company to a quote? Shit the only price difference should be with inflation, and cost of materials. Not oh we need 4 million more in labor for each bird.

[Up0n0ne]

No offense, I realize you are far smarter than I am when it comes to economic jazz but all Im saying is Im tired of liars in washington!

**EDIT** I have to add, you understand that the dollar amount of his earmarks is not what Im upset about right? You and most of the people in this thread are soley focused on dollar amounts. Its simply the fact that he says one thing and does another. He is dishonest to his constituents.

LOL! Sucks trying to point out something just to have most focus on something else huh?
Just like my thread, most were focused on that it was a Christian app and a company rejecting it cause it was their right. When I was just trying to get across there's a lot of apps that I and others find offensive, but we don't put much thought into and just don't download the app. We don't get a group together and complain to have it removed. There's spps far more offensive than a Christian app IMO. That is what I was trying to get across in my thread, but figured I'd just let it go.
BTW: As of now I don't own a Iphone or a smartphone for that matter, but plan on the driod. lol

As far as your thread I see your point clear as day, pretty much your tired of the double minded people in govt and double standards that they stand for and the hypocrisy that is all to tiring to see. I agree 100%

[OldGuysRule]

LOL! Sucks trying to point out something just to have most focus on something else huh?
Just like my thread, most were focused on that it was a Christian app and a company rejecting it cause it was their right. When I was just trying to get across there's a lot of apps that I and others find offensive, but we don't put much thought into and just don't download the app. We don't get a group together and complain to have it removed. There's spps far more offensive than a Christian app IMO. That is what I was trying to get across in my thread, but figured I'd just let it go.
BTW: As of now I don't own a Iphone or a smartphone for that matter, but plan on the driod. lol

As far as your thread I see your point clear as day, pretty much your tired of the double minded people in govt and double standards that they stand for and the hypocrisy that is all to tiring to see. I agree 100%

Or you can go through life concentrating on the wrong stuff and getting pissed at everything while other people are passing you by.

I didn't create the rules of living life in America... I just play by them and use them to my advantage.

[Up0n0ne]

Or you can go through life concentrating on the wrong stuff and getting pissed at everything while other people are passing you by.

True, although not everyone agrees on what the "wrong stuff" is.

[Dlachance]

John Boehner(R) has never taken an earmark, in 20 years. Just sayin.

[OldGuysRule]

True, although not everyone agrees on what the "wrong stuff" is.

That's what makes America great. We all are free to choose on what to concentrate on.

[Pur Vnm]

I think you guys need to meet in front of the OK Corral and have a shootout. IMHO they are all a bunch oh "liars and cheats", and John Boener is a F-ing crybaby.

[Vertnut]

I think you guys need to meet in front of the OK Corral and have a shootout. IMHO they are all a bunch oh "liars and cheats", and John Boener is a F-ing crybaby.

He can cry all he wants, if he'll straighten out that piece of shit known as "congress".