Bush signs $555 billion spending bill

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Bush signs $555 billion spending bill
By BEN FELLER

CRAWFORD — President Bush, still voicing concern about special project
spending by Congress, signed a $555 billion bill today that funds the
Iraq war well into 2008 and keeps government agencies running through
next September.

Bush's signed the massive spending bill as he flew on Air Force One to
his Texas ranch here to see in the new year. His signature on the
legislation caps a long-running fight with the Democratic-run Congress.

"I am disappointed in the way the Congress compiled this legislation,
including abandoning the goal I set early this year to reduce the
number and cost of earmarks by half," the president said in a
statement. "Instead, the Congress dropped into the bill nearly 9,800
earmarks that total more than $10 billion. These projects are not
funded through a merit-based process and provide a vehicle for wasteful
government spending."

"There is still more to be done to rein in government spending," Bush
said. "In February I will submit my budget proposal for fiscal year
2009, which will once again restrain spending, keep taxes low, and
continue us on a path towards a balanced budget. I look forward to
working with the Congress in the coming year to ensure taxpayer dollars
are spent wisely.

A Bush spokesman, Scott Stanzel, had told reporters en route to Texas
earlier that the president remained concerned about "Congress'
addiction to earmarks."

Bush, who had used his veto power to remain relevant in the debate with
Democrats on national spending priorities, had agreed to sign the
measure, which includes $70 billion for military operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan, after winning concessions on Iraq and other budget items.
The bill bankrolls 14 Cabinet departments and federal agencies and
funds foreign aid for the budget year that began on Oct. 1.

Bush and his Senate GOP allies forced the Iraq money upon anti-war
Democrats as the price for permitting the year-end budget deal to pass
and be signed.

Democrats tried to use war spending legislation to force a change in
Bush's Iraq policy, chiefly by setting a withdrawal goal with dates
such as Dec. 15, 2009. But Bush and Republicans held a powerful hand.
They knew Democrats would not let money lapse for troops overseas. That
allowed a Bush veto in May and GOP stalling tactics to determine the
outcome.

On the domestic budget, Bush's GOP allies were divided over whether the
overall spending bill was a victory for their party in the long fight
with Democrats over agency budgets.

Conservatives and outside watchdog groups criticized the bill for
having about $28 billion in domestic spending that topped Bush's budget
and was paid for by a combination of "emergency" spending, transfers
from the defense budget and other maneuvers.

Stanzel noted today that Bush had asked for options the White House
might have to abrogate some or a large degree of the special interest
spending.

"So no decisions have been made on that front," Stanzel added, "but
certainly as you noted in the president's press conference last week,
he talked about directing the OMB director, Jim Nussle, to look at ways
— or look at avenues by which the federal government can address those
earmarks."

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