Thursday, October 25, 2007

Republicans Ignore Wars $2.4 Trillion Cost, Literally

Yesterday a House committee had a hearing on the cost of the war: Iraq and Afghanistan wars may total $2.4 trillion.

Chairman Spratt: “The cumulative cost by 2017 could be an astounding $1.7 trillion. While these costs are enormous, they omit any calculation of interest on the funding borrowed for war operations. And since the government has run substantial deficits from 2003 through 2007, and since future borrowing to some extent can be expected, interest needs to be imputed to the total cost of the war. This expense, as I said, has previously been omitted, but if included, according to CBO, interest cumulatively could be as much $705 billion by 2017. Added to direct costs… the total cost could reach $2.4 trillion by 2017.”

The funny thing about the hearing is that of the 16 Republicans who are members, 15 did not show up! The ranking member Paul Ryan (R-WI) was there but the following were not:

J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC)
Jo Bonner (R-AL)
Scott Garrett (R-NJ)
Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)
Daniel E. Lungren (R-CA)
Michael K. Simpson (R-ID)
Patrick T. McHenry (R-NC)
Connie Mack (R-FL)
K. Michael Conaway (R-TX)
John Campbell (R-CA)
Patrick J. Tiberi (R-OH)
Jon C. Porter (R-NV)
Rodney Alexander (R-LA)
Adrian Smith (R-NE)

A conflict? A statement of protest? Or just putting their heads in the sand of what their party is doing. If one of these is your representative, why not call and ask why they didn't even bother to show up?

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