CNN Late Edition: Boehner Says "No Deal" to Dems' Offer of Billions in Wasteful, Pork-Barrel Spending
GOP Leader Discusses Majority's Latest Spending Spree on the Backs of Troops and Veterans, as Well as Host of National Security Priorities
Washington,
Dec 9, 2007 -
Appearing this morning on CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) flatly rejected an offer by congressional Democrats – saying “No Deal” – for a massive end-of-year spending bill that piles billions in wasteful spending on the backs of American troops fighting and defeating al Qaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan. With 11 of 12 annual appropriations bills not yet passed – more than two months after the start of the new fiscal year – House and Senate Democratic leaders now are planning to load up critical legislation to fund veterans, troops, and their families with billions in unrelated, pork-barrel spending. For months, Boehner and other House Republicans have been warning taxpayers about this oncoming congressional spending spree, and he underscored his opposition to it once again this morning.
Excerpts and full video of Boehner’s interview – which also addressed a number of national security priorities follow:
To watch the interview, click HERE:
BOEHNER ON WHETHER HE WOULD ACCEPT THE DEMOCRATS’ DEAL ON BILLIONS MORE IN PORK SPENDING
“No deal. We ought to get the money to the troops. We got to find ways to reduce spending so we can hold it at the President’s numbers and get ourselves home to see our constituents for the holidays.”
BOEHNER ON THE DEMOCRATS’ PLANS TO PILE BILLIONS IN PORK ON THE BACKS OF TROOPS FIGHTING THE WAR ON TERROR
“Why should congressional Democrats try to blackmail the President for more domestic spending, because we’ve got troops in Afghanistan and Iraq who need resources? I don’t -- this is unnecessary. We ought to be giving the President all the money for the troops – Afghanistan and Iraq for the balance of this fiscal year. It is about $170 billion still needed to fund our efforts there. It has nothing to do with the congressional Democrats’ insatiable desire to spend more money.”
BOEHNER ON THE NEED TO THE NEED TO HOLD THE LINE ON WASTEFUL SPENDING
“Wolf, Republicans lost the last election in ‘06. Part of the reason we lost is because a lot of people thought we lost our way on spending. I’ve spent all year working with my House Republican colleagues and Senate Republican colleagues to draw a line on spending, to get rid of wasteful earmarks. This money is not necessary. And I believe that we ought to hold the line on spending. I’ve worked with the Administration. When it is all said and done this government needs to be more lean and efficient because that’s what the American taxpayers deserve and expect.”
BOEHNER ON GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF WHI THE CIA DESTROYED VIDEOTAPES
“I think we need to get to the bottom of what were these tapes, what happened, was there permission, was there permission required, and now you have the Justice Department doing their investigation. You’re going to have the Intelligence Committees in both the House and the Senate doing their investigations and we’ll get to the bottom of what did happen.”
BOEHNER ON LAST WEEK’S NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE ON IRAN’S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM
“Well, while I want to understand why this assessment has changed so dramatically, let’s just understand that Iran continues to be a threat. They’re one of the largest state sponsors of terrorism around the world. Their leadership is on the verge of being crazy, and they are – they are still a very serious threat to the United States and to the region.”
BOEHNER ON PAKISTAN AS A VITAL ALLY IN THE WAR ON TERROR
“They’re an important ally of the United States. They’re going to continue to be an important ally. Clearly, what’s been happening in Pakistan over the last several months is troubling, but I’m hopeful that emergency law that’s in effect will in fact go away next week and that elections, free and fair elections, do occur in January.”
