Sen. DeMint (r) wants to punish Berkeley CA because they refuse to build marine recruiters downtown

[LynneSin]

http://www.dailycal.org/article/100199/marines_vote_leads_to_threat_on_city_funds

Marines Vote Leads to Threat on City Funds
Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., to Introduce Bill To Remove City's $2.3 Million in Earmarks
By TAYLOR FIFE and JANE SHIN
Contributing Writers
Monday, February 4, 2008

What started with a set of resolutions against the Marine Corps recruiting center in Downtown Berkeley has escalated into a national controversy and caused the mayor to revisit the resolutions' intentions.

United States Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said Thursday he will introduce legislation that would strip $2,392,000 in earmarked spending for at least six projects in Berkeley from a Senate appropriations bill.

This includes $975,000 for UC Berkeley's Matsui Center on Politics and Public Service and $750,000 for a planned ferry service in Berkeley.

In a press release issued Thursday, DeMint said his proposed legislation was a response to the City Council's decision to support protesters who object to the recruiting station.

"This is a slap in the face to all brave service men and women and their families," DeMint said in a 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."

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, who sponsored many of the earmarks issued to Berkeley organizations, objected to DeMint's effort, her staff said.

"The congresswoman would strongly oppose any attempt to punish the people of Berkeley by stripping them of much needed federal funding," said Cleve Mesidor, a spokesperson for Lee.

[RedStateShame]

1. I guess "states' rights" just doesn't mean what it used to...

And exactly how much tax money does South Carolina receive from the rest of the US? Why don't we stop that spigot first?

[Thothmes]

3. Last time I checked my copy of the Constitution

There was no reference in that document addressing "City Rights". Do not believe that Berkeley rises to the level of a State. Therefore it is not accorded any particular status with regard to the 10th Amendment to the Constitution. What does tax dollars going to South Carolina have to do with the the MC recruiter issue in Berkley?. We routinely collect more taxes from "richer" states and reallocate them to "poorer" states. One very popular view on the DU is to tax the hell out of the "rich" to help the "poor". Same principle applies to states, who are after all, a collection of U.S. Citizens.

[EFerrari]

2. What an @ss. Berkeley likely puts in more than they get back.

Republican math. lol