quote:

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-Oklahoma), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and David Vitter (R-Louisiana) introduced the Semper Fi Act of 2008. The bill would rescind over $2 million in hidden earmarks for Berkeley, California in the 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill, and transfer the funds to the Marine Corps. U.S. Congressman John Campbell (R-California) is introducing a companion bill in the House of Representatives.

Last week, the City Council of Berkeley voted to oust Marine Corps recruiters from their downtown office, saying the Marines were 'uninvited and unwelcome intruders.' Berkeley officials also voted to give the radical protest group Code Pink space outside the recruitment office and urged them to 'impede, passively or actively' the work of Marine Corps recruiters.

One earmark provides $243,000 in taxpayer dollars for the organization Chez Panisse <http://www.chezpanisse.com/> to create gourmet organic school lunches in the Berkeley School District. Chez Panisse is dedicated to 'environmental harmony' and their menu features 'Comt cheese souffl with mche salad,' 'Meyer lemon clairs with huckleberry coulis,' and 'Chicory salad with creamy anchovy vinaigrette and olive toast.'

Another earmark would spend $975,000 in taxpayer dollars for the University of California in Berkeley Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service, to create a new endowment and cataloging the papers of Congressman Robert Matsui. U.C. Berkeley currently already has a $3.5 billion endowmen! t.
Senator Inhofe: 'Unfortunately, those on the Berkeley city council do not seem to understand the sacrifice of the brave men and women of the United States Marine Corps. By interfering with military recruiting, the city of Berkeley is hampering our ability to protect this nation. While the city of Berkeley and the protestors are free to say whatever they like, free speech is not a protection from consequence.'
Senator DeMint: 'Berkeley needs to learn that their actions have consequences. Patriotic American taxpayers won't sit quietly while Berkeley insults our brave Marines and tries to run them out of town. Berkeley City Council members have shown complete ingratitude to our military and their families, and the city doesn't deserve a single dime of special pet project handouts.'

Senator Cornyn: 'The Berkeley City Council insulted our troops and offended people across the country. If the U.S. Marines are not good enough for Berkeley, neither are taxpayer dollars Congress would have sent there this year. That city closed its doors on the same individuals taking bullets on the front lines while fighting for the safety and freedom of families in Berkeley and throughout America.'

Senator Vitter: 'The actions of the City Council of Berkeley are in stark contrast to beliefs of the vast majority of Americans who recognize and honor the service and sacrifice of our U.S. Marines. This is simply unacceptable and those funds could be better utilized by the Marine Corps.'

Dr. Coburn: 'The actions by the city of Berkeley are deplorable and insulting to those who are serving and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect the very freedoms that are being exercised to insult them. I know I stand with the majority of Americans in thanking our service men and women for their selfless service to our nation.'

Senator Chambliss: 'We need to send a strong message that our military personnel deserve our strongest support. Georgia is a proud military state, and my constituents will be out outraged to know that during a time of war, their taxpayers dollars have been used to reward folks who have insulted and disparaged those who defend this nation every day.'

quote:

5. It looks like fascism when you take away people's rights for giving their tax money to public schools and giving it to the military. When the military gets the biggest budget.

quote:

So the military is now a business organization?

quote:

Originally posted by SULLY1:
Mulder this Bill is neither about Cal -Berkley or State this is about ( D) earmarks promised by District Senator after the USMC were allowed to place their Recruiteing Station and the Anti- War Code Pink wants to make a statement using the Marines as the in- between.This is not a Bill against Berkley but the radical City Council.

quote:

Originally posted by SULLY1:
Mulder this argument was caused by Radical Council Members and this was the results removal of (D) earmarks promised by Sen.Barbra Lee none of which are nessary for Public Education.

quote:

Originally posted by SULLY1:
Mulder you are just plain smart when you speak of equal rights what about the inocent bystander what about the USMC's rights I guess they don't have any.

quote:

Originally posted by SULLY1:
Mulder are you saying just because they live and die protecting the Constution that they are not protected by the same as others.No Mulder I have never heard of the UCMJ at least the one you go by.By the way my Avatar I earned how about You.

quote:

Originally posted by SULLY1:
Mulder are you saying that the Constution does not apply to Military Personal.Question do you even know what your Avatar is.You earned O-6 without going in the Military Damm you are good.Mulder I sure feel handicapted talking Military with you.

quote:

Originally posted by SULLY1:
I didn't say anything about Iraq or any other War I ask you a simple question do you or don't you think those USMC Recruiters have Constutional Rights.