Three Disturbing Things About Washington on Display Tonight:

I am concerned by reports out of Washington this afternoon that as much as $17 billion in
unrelated domestic spending may be added to the emergency Afghanistan and Iraq war
supplemental bill which will be voted on in the middle of the night tonight. This illustrates three
very disturbing things about how Washington operates.

First, this emergency funding for operations was requested by the Secretary of Defense months
ago. In the request, Sec. Gates asked for the funds by July 4. Voting on the funding was
delayed as long as possible and now rushed onto the agenda for a last minute vote so that time
pressure and political arm twisting become a huge factor.

Second, as usual, support for our troops on the ground is being shamelessly manipulated by
Washington politicians for their own gain. Why not discuss and vote on $17 billion in unrelated
domestic spending separate from the emergency defense spending? If the unrelated $17 billion
has merit why not allow a separate vote?

Third, the vote in the House is expected to be taken after midnight tonight, right before a holiday
weekend. If the process and actions of the Speaker Pelosi and the Washington leadership
were so noble, why do votes like this often seem to be taken in the dark of night right before a
holiday? Why are they taken when the fewest Americans will be watching and reading media
coverage?

Is it too much to ask that spending votes be debated in the light of day? Is it too much to ask
that unrelated spending not be added to defense bills? This is why we need a change in the
leadership in the House of Representatives. Enough is enough.