Among what's angered Sen. Mikulski, via ThinkProgress:
Bush has requested $603 million to train Iraqi police. But at the same time, his FY 2009 budget includes a 61 percent cut for state and local law enforcement programs at the Justice Department.
Mikulski is rightfully outraged at the elimination of the COPS and Byrne grants, which provide federal funds for local law enforcement in places like Nashville. Bush’s budget eliminates these domestic programs completely, yet he wants $603 million to train Iraqi police?
Here’s a radical idea for the president: you want tax money to train the Iraqi police? You want taxpayers to fund more surges? You want more money for your war? Then ask the American people to pay a war tax.
Go on, I dare you. I double dare you.
Take it straight to the American people. What, are you scared we’ll say no? Maybe we’ll surprise you: with only one exception (in the 1840s), taxes have been raised to fund every single war America has ever fought. Until now.
So go on, ask us. If we say no, we'll pack up our bags and go home. If we say yes, then you have your "war mandate."
Just don’t bleed the homeland dry to pay for Iraq. Don’t rob America.
That's just stupid.
