Candice S. Miller: “today we will debate the emergency supplemental to fund our efforts in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Will it be an open…”

“today we will debate the emergency supplemental to fund our efforts in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Will it be an open debate? No. We will be operating under a closed rule with no amendments. Will it be a focused debate? No. Unless you believe that pork barrel spending on spinach farmers and peanut storage are critical to the global war on terror. A USA Today editorial said this: ``It is hard to say which is worse, leaders offering peanuts for a vote of this magnitude, or Members allowing their votes to be bought for peanuts. These provisions demean a bill that if enacted would affect the lives of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the balance of power in the Middle East and America's long-term security.'' Reports today also say that if pork-barrel spending isn't enough, that Democrat leaders are issuing veiled threats, such as the loss of committee assignments, for those Members who oppose them. The Democrat leaders offered the voters change in November, but all the Nation is getting is politics worse than usual. The supplemental should be defeated, and the Democrat majority should come back with a bill that honors our troops and does not demean their sacrifice.”