Unwilling to risk one last fiscal standoff with President Bush, the House on Wednesday passed a stopgap spending measure that pushes critical spending and energy decisions off until 2009 and into the hands of the next president. The legislation, which would keep the federal government operating through March 6, represents a gamble by Democrats that they can get a better deal on domestic spending and other initiatives from the next occupant of the White House. One of the final must-pass measures of the year, the bill, technically known as a continuing resolution and approved on a vote of 370 to 58, totals more than $630 billion. It provides nearly $23 billion in hurricane and flood relief as well as $25 billion in loan guarantees for the nation’s auto manufacturers.

Considering this is supposed to be a defense bill, why is congress adding in hurricane relief and auto loans? Those together are about $50 billion. This congress has once again demonstrated their willingness to pass the buck. Instead of doing the right thing they would rather dump the issues on the next administration. Our soldiers deserve a pay raise of course, but should that be held hostage by corporate loans? Aren't we (the American Public) about to foot the bill for way to much in corporate loans anyway?

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