Boehner's Test

House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) is quoted by Human Events "The Right Angle" blog as having the following answer with a reporter today: (Audio is here in .mp3 and .wma formats.)

Q: "Despite the President's veto threat, the Senate has added over $14 billion to the emergency supplemental bill..."

Majority Leader Boehner: "The House will not take up an emergency supplemental spending bill for Katrina and the War in Iraq that spends one dollar more than what the President asked for. Period."

Wow. House GOP Leadership appears to have finally grown a pair when dealing with the appropriators and other pork merchants who think $700 Million 'railroads to nowhere' are part of the 'perks' of Congress.

Even more amazing is this statement from Speaker Hastert.

"As it's currently drafted, the Senate's $109 billion emergency spending bill is dead on arrival in the House. President Bush requested $92 billion for the War on Terror and some hurricane spending. The House used fiscal restraint, but now the Senate wants to come to the table with a tab that's $17 billion over budget. The House has no intention of joining in a spending spree at the expense of American taxpayers."

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in the Conference Committee when Trent Lott goes ballistic about his railroad.

Maybe they're finally realizing that it is this - runaway spending on useless crap no one wants - that is what's really pissing off the American public on Congress and threatens the GOP majority this fall.

But that being said, I'll be posting contact numbers to call all member of Wisconsin's Congressional Delegation here later tonight. I'd advise even if you don't live in WI-06, give Tom Petri (R-Fond du Lac) an extra couple calls.

He's the most in need of the wake-up call.

UPDATE (6:48 PM) - Here's the numbers.

Paul Ryan (R) WI-01:
Toll Free Hotline: 1-888-909-RYAN (7926)
Racine: 262-637-0510
Janesville: 608-752-4050
Kenosha: 262-654-1901
DC Offices: 202-225-3031

Tammy Baldwin (D) WI-02:
Beloit: 608-362-2800
Madison: 608-258-9800
DC Offices: 202-225-2906

Ron Kind (D) WI-03:
Eau Claire: 715-831-9214
La Crosse: 715-782-2558
DC Offices: 202-225-5506

Gwen Moore (D) WI-04:
Milwaukee: 414-297-1140
DC Offices: 202-225-4572

Jim Sensenbrenner (R) WI-05:
Brookfield: 262-784-1111
DC Offices: 202-225-5101

Tom Petri (R) WI-06:
Fond du Lac: 920-922-1180
Oshkosh: 920-231-6333
DC Offices: 202-225-2476

Dave Obey (D) WI-07:
Wausau: 715-842-5605
Superior: 715-398-4426
DC Offices: 202-225-3365

Mark Green (R) WI-08:
Green Bay: 920-437-1954
Appleton: 920-380-0061
DC Offices: 202-225-5665

If you call, be friendly, nice, and courteous (especially to the Democrats and Petri). The others (Green, Ryan, and Sensenbrenner) should be on our side, but little reminders never hurt.