Conference Report on H.R. 3222, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2008

CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3222, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - November 08, 2007)

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Mr. SHADEGG. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I am stunned at this debate. All of our colleagues are watching. Yeah, we brought you a rule that says transparency was a good idea. We still believe transparency is a good idea, but that rule is being waived here. We are not being allowed to debate air-dropped earmarks dropped into this legislation. We are not being allowed to follow the rule.

Now, let's see if I understand this. It is okay for America if you adopt rules that require transparency, but it is also okay if you just waive the rules that require transparency, because after all, you said you were for transparency and adopted a rule for transparency and you just waived it. So there is no transparency. I believe it is vitally important that the American people know how their money is spent. I think they would want to know that we are spending millions of dollars in air-dropped earmarks for things that make no sense in the Defense bill, including golf training. I have yet to meet a soldier who didn't perhaps want to improve his golf game, but I have yet to meet a taxpayer who thought we ought to be funding that. You are either for transparency or not. I think it is simple and straightforward.

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