Does This Unrelated Spending Belong in an Emergency Funding Bill?

Via email:

Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee are set to vote today on an emergency troop funding bill that they’ve loaded up with more than $20 BILLION in unrelated spending. According to the DC Examiner:

“Congress has loaded up President Bush's request for ‘emergency’ spending on the Iraq war with more than $20 billion in ‘pork’ for members' districts.

“Money for peanut storage in Georgia, spinach growers in California , menhaden in the Atlantic Ocean and even more office space for the lawmakers themselves is included in what has ballooned into a $124 billion war bill.”

The Examiner quoted Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) saying, “Spinach farmers in California should not be getting emergency war spending money.” Rep. Kirk is right. Some examples of unrelated spending items Dem leaders have stuffed into the emergency troop funding bill follow, along with the page numbers on which they appear in the Democrats’ actual proposal:

$25 million for spinach

$50 million for the “Capitol Hill Power Plant”

$5 million for tropical fish

$283 million for the Milk Income Loss Contract Program

$74 million for peanut storage costs

$120 million for shrimp and menhaden fishing industries

$25 million for livestock producers

$15 million for crop damage

$100 million for citrus producers

…and the list goes on. Do these belong in an emergency spending bill?

The Los Angeles Times described the Democrats’ plan as “an unruly mess.” House Republicans will continue to stand united in this debate, and will oppose efforts by Democrats to force American troops to carry their pork.

To answer the question, no. This unrelated spending should NOT be in an emergency funding bill...but the Democrats have their priorities and it appears not to be Victory.