WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 5222, The Semper Fi Act

Comment by Jim (June 2, 2008, 01:00:00)

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

If Berkeley Town Council said "Blacks are not welcome here", there would be such a fuss that they would all be recalled or would be resigning by now....

Revision by webmaster (May 1, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 5222 would rescind funds appropriated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, for the City of Berkeley, California, and any entities located in such city, and to provide that such funds shall be transferred to the Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps account of the Department of Defense for the purposes of recruiting.

Detailed Summary

Semper Fi Act - Rescinds all amounts appropriated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 for the city of Berkeley, California, or entities in such city.

Transfers the rescinded amounts to the Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps account of the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2008, to be used for recruiting.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Comment by Joe (March 6, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST

The $2 million was put into the coffers by all Americans, including Berkeley citizens.Wearing a lapel pin or a ribbon on your car does not support veterans.Let congress give a quarter of Halliburton's set-aside to the VA system.Take care of every returning veteran.Let no veteran be without medical care or a home.That would show your support....

Comment by Joe (March 6, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST

It's time we evolve past petty gestures and immerse ourselves in the business of taking care of the people who've fought so that we can wear lapel pins and not get bombed daily by IED's.We have a history of lip service and short memories in regards to our military.The GI bill is wonderful,but needs updating.We need well staffed hospitals and enough mid-level housing on bases, to shelter everyone who needs it.Reward the veterans rather than punish taxpayers....

Comment by Stephen (February 28, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

The Semper Fi act is just political demagogery, which targets groups that have nothing to do with the city council, and are not even in their jurisdiction. Why not withdraw federal funding from Duke university for the actions of the Berkeley city council? It makes just as much sense as punishing UC Berkeley....

Comment by Jay (February 26, 2008, 01:00:00)

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Sherri the price of freedom is not free and it value is much more than 2 million dollars visit a VA hospital some time and fine out....

Comment by Stephen (February 16, 2008, 01:00:00)

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

First of all, the University of California and the Berkeley city council are separate entities. UC Berkeley is a state institution, along with all the other UC branches. UC Berkeley has an ROTC program. Its chancellor has denounced the city council action against the Marine recruiting center. It makes no sense to cut money from the university in retaliation for the action of the city council....

Comment by Dominic (February 15, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

1. The US Constitution does not guarantee earmarks for any entity in the nation nor does it require the federal government to provide school lunches to anyone, especially gourmet meals. 2. A legal act modifying a bill to provide earmarks to Berkeley is completely legal, and based on the feedback from the majority of Americans, is in keeping with the senitments of the electorate. 3. It is altogehter proper that these hatefull, leftist-facists finance their own community's needs. You can't expect to slap a substantial portion of the nation in the face and then expect tax-payer funding for your pet projects and initiatives....

Comment by fred (February 15, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

i might be wrong but isnt the kids lunch state/local goverment job they know what they done was not right so like the saying they made their bed so they need to lay in it...

Comment by Roger (February 14, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Let's send the city council to Iraq to protest. This is a pitiful example of people who want our freedoms but could care less for the people who protect those freedoms. I would like to know how the citizens of Berkley feel about the decision of their city council....

Comment by Mark (February 14, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Jared The citizens of Berkley vote for their city council. So since these are the people who were voted into office than yes they speak not for all but a majority of the Berkley residents....

Comment by Mickey (February 14, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

UC disavowment of the Berkeley City Council rings hollow. The City is succored greatly by their undoubtedly fine University. I would venture to guess that the voters who elected those council members, indeed perhaps the members themselves, are employed at or otherwise find their livelihood from the University. UC has let this leftist fascism among your employees and students run amok so long that it has culminated in this over-the-top display. But they cry that they are not associated. And that they funding should not be cut. This is as unsightly as Code Pink saying "the Republicans are now trying to steal the children's lunch money" when they insist that the city must pay for it's actions....

Comment by John Edwards (February 13, 2008, 01:00:00)

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

The right of this community to speak it's venom was bought and paid for with the blood and guts of the fearless United States Marines. The honarable and mighty Marines will rise above this community's drival and stand ready to serve and protect... with honor! In the meantime, I have asked my own Virginia elected officials to support this important bill so that taxpayers are not made to support Traitors and insurgents!...

Comment by Jared (February 12, 2008, 01:00:00)

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

It seams so very easy for conservatives to claim that the city council of Berkeley must speak for all its residents and institutions and therefore just as easy to punish all equally. This bill (put forth by self-serving senators, who have failing grades on serving those who have served this nation) wrongly group the self-serving politicians in the Berkeley city council with its institutions. This includes withdrawing funding for the University of California, Berkeley. UC Berkeley is this nation’s highest ranked PUBLIC University, and has done more for the national security of this nation then ANY other university. From providing 70% of its nuclear arsenal and like technologies since WW2, to providing many of great minds that serve the varied parts of government including Secretaries of Defense, CIA, and NSA officials to name a small few. Continued Below…...

Comment by Jared (February 12, 2008, 01:00:00)

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Within the walls of this University is one of the oldest ROTC programs on the west coast, an active recruitment program by all branches of the armed services including the Marines, and a very active veteran’s community on campus. Insinuating that this City Council speaks for or has authority over this institution is a disservice to it and this nation. It is for this reason that it is so easy for the other half of this great nation to believe that republicans act before they think and hardly ever the latter of the two. And thus so very easy to see why the republican party has lost the support of this nation to govern it....

Comment by Jack (February 11, 2008, 01:00:00)

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Berkeley sure had a bone-headed idea, but watch out for the indignant senators trying to garner some publicity for themselves. Do they REALLY support the troops? Votesmart's last rating on senators is for 2006: Disabled American Veterans: Cornyn and DeMint each get a rating of 60%. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: Cornyn got a D-, DeMint got an F. Retired Enlisted Association: Cornyn got a rating of 6%. DeMint got a rating of 18%. Talk is cheap. Senators who don't actually vote for veterans won't get my support....

Comment by Larry (February 11, 2008, 01:00:00)

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

ADD TOLEDO OHIO TO THE LIST....

Comment by Will (February 11, 2008, 01:00:00)

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Bobbi asks, "...well what in the world do you think the City council is doing?? How much time did they sit up there and address this issue and make all of these new rules?? Huh??" The answer is, about six minutes. Council meetings are videotaped....

Comment by bobbi (February 10, 2008, 01:00:00)

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

This should be a signal to ANYONE in this country!! Protest all you want, but DO NOT tell the people who have defended this country for several hundred years that they are not worthy to be in the same city. ! Andrew, petty abuse of power, well what in the world do you think the City council is doing?? How much time did they sit up there and address this issue and make all of these new rules?? Huh?? how much did that cost the taxpayers, I propose berkeley become their own country. Yeah, check this out, they have their own liberal gov't, where everybody loves everybody, they don't pay taxes and get this BEST of ALL they don't have a military. (oh it gets better) THEN hopefully they don't get attacked by some crazy radical demanding that they be wiped off the face of the earth because of the fact that they think they (the country of berkeley) are too free!!...

Comment by Bobbi (February 10, 2008, 01:00:00)

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Sheri, you are right freedom of speech isn't free, it's been paid for with many lives. How about the Freedom the marines should have to recruit wherever they want to IN THIS COUNTRY?? oh let me guess, freedom of speech is only for liberal protestors..my bad...

Comment by Ginger (February 9, 2008, 01:00:00)

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

As taxpayers we should not be funding cooking schools etc. anywhere. I agree with recinding funds for formal anti-americanism in Berkeley. Berkely allows their local government to speak for the community and I resent giving them a dime....

Comment by Sherri (February 8, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

How completely stupid. The Marine Corps fought and died for people's freedom of speech and in return, the federal government wants to force the protestors to be silent? Wouldn't a better reaction be to introduce a resolution to commend the Marines on their success in protecting Berkley's right to be stupid? If you disagree with what the protestors are doing, then I am sure you have no problem with this. But what happens when it is something you agree with, will you have no problem with the federal government trying to force your silence through monotary means? Doesn't it seem a little bit like the federal government is attempting to force it's will on Berkley? Seems to me like freedom of speech isn't free. In this case, it seems it costs about 2 million dollars....

Comment by Andrew (February 8, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

What a horrible, petty abuse of power from our Washington lawmakers. They are retaliating against the entire city, punishing what appears to be all of Berekely's residents, defunding their schools, hospitals, roads, and parks just due to the symbolic protests of the City Council. Shame on the proponents of the so-called "Semper Fi Act". This bill will never pass, and it shouldn't even be legal for Congressmen to threaten a peaceful community in this fashion....

Revision by webmaster (February 7, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Detailed Summary

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Status of the Legislation

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Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (February 7, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Detailed Summary

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Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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