Friday, February 01, 2008

Update on Berkeley Marines

Good ol' Sen. DeMint!

U.S. Senator Wants to Revoke Funding From City of Berkeley, Calif., for Vote to Boot Marines

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., says the City of Berkeley, Calif., no longer deserves federal money.
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"This is a slap in the face to all brave service men and women and their families," DeMint said in a prepared statement. "The First Amendment gives the City of Berkeley the right to be idiotic, but from now on they should do it with their own money."

"If the city can’t show respect for the Marines that have fought, bled and died for their freedom, Berkeley should not be receiving special taxpayer-funded handouts," he added.

In the meantime, a senior Marine official tells FOX News that the Marine office in Berkeley isn't going anywhere.

"We understand things are different there, but some people just don't get it. This is a part of the military machine that gives them the right to do what they do, but what they are doing is extreme," the official said.

DeMint said he will draft legislation to rescind any earmarks dedicated for the City of Berkeley in the recently passed appropriations bill — which his office tallied to value about $2.1 million. He said that any money taken back would be transferred to the Marines.
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"To actually put something into law that encourages the disruption of a federal office is ridiculous. They are not going to kick a federal office out of its rightful place there, and this is not going to discourage those young patriots who want to be Marines," the official said.

Related post: Retreat? Hell, we just got here!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Here at Move America Forward, we just spoke with Sen. DeMint's office and they're very excited about this issue and said they support us. Please read our response here:
http://www.moveamericaforward.org/index.php/MAF/FullNewsItem/shameful_berekeley_city_council_attacks_marines/
and sign our petition here:
http://www.moveamericaforward.org/index.php/MAF/FullNewsItem/shameful_berekeley_city_council_attacks_marines/