Bush slashes federal raises, blames terror

[Madison]

The magic justification - works on everything from the 4th Amendment to budget gaps. Wonder if the recent Congressional pay raises will 'interfere' with the 'war on terrorism' too? LOL

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Bush slashes federal raises, blames terror
Saturday, November 30, 2002

CRAWFORD, Texas (CNN) -- Federal civilian workers won't see the full pay raise they were promised with President Bush's decision to cut the planned salary hikes because of the war on terrorism.

"Full statutory civilian pay increases in 2003 would interfere with our nation's ability to pursue the war on terrorism," Bush said in a letter released Friday to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and President of the Senate, Vice President Dick Cheney.

"Such cost increases would threaten our efforts against terrorism or force deep cuts in discretionary spending or federal employment to stay within the budget," Bush wrote. "Neither outcome is acceptable."


http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/11/30/bush.raises/

 

[Babak]

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN DEC 01, 2002 18:01:09 ET XXXXX

WHITE HOUSE FAITH-BASED ADVISER TURNS ON ROVE; CLAIMS ALL DECISIONS ARE POLITICIZED

An article in upcoming editions of ESQUIRE magazine quotes a former top aide at the White House as saying there is a void of substantive policy-making within the Bush administration.

The former aide, John J. DiIulio Jr., a domestic affairs expert and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, was appointed by President Bush to head the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in the second week of the new administration, claims all decisions are politicized by Bush's top adviser Karl Rove, and that the policy staff is afraid to confront him.

Fancy media outlets, including the NEW YORK TIMES, are prepping stories on the ESQUIRE effort, newsroom sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

In an interview with the magazine, DiIulio said: "There is no precedent in any modern White House for what is going on in this one: a complete lack of a policy apparatus. What you've got is everything, and I mean everything, being run by the political arm. It's the reign of the Mayberry Machiavellis."