October 17th, 2013
02:14 AM ET

The 5 most surprising provisions in the debt deal

So much for a "clean" bill. The measure passed by Congress to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling also contains some goodies and gifts tucked into the 35-page bill.

There's more money - a lot more - for a dam project on the Ohio River and millions of cash for Colorado flooding repair projects. And the wealthy widow of a late U.S. senator will receive a year's pay as a death benefit.

You have to hand it to a Congress that finds no bill is off limits for pork.

"These people are like alcoholics. They can't resist taking a drink. It's ridiculous. It's absolutely ridiculous," said Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona to the Daily Beast, referring to the dam project. "It shows that there are people in this body who are willing to use any occasion to get an outrageous pork-barrel project done at the cost of millions and millions of dollars. It's disgusting."

Here are five most surprising provisions to the bill:

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soundoff (6 Responses)
  1. chrissy

    Hmmm "Here are five most surprising provisions to the bill : ????? So you have to guess what they are and are they 5 more besides the 3 previously listed? And a wealthy widow of a late senator is getting a years pay? Wth? And they are having fits about ppl recieving food stamps?? Wow! Most people i see using them are extremely embarressed so no i don't think they would rather have a free ride than to work and pay their way! Ive not liked John McCain much til now but i hope he continues speaking out on this!

    October 17, 2013 at 8:36 am | Report abuse |
  2. chrissy

    Time for EVERY american worker to come together and go on strike! ONE DAY with everyone on strike would show these clowns WHO is really needed and who is not! And without us they are nothing! Because the fact is they work for us not vice versa! They just get rich from our hard work while we get peanuts!

    October 17, 2013 at 10:16 am | Report abuse |
  3. banasy©

    There will never be a "clean" bill. Pork. It's what's for dinner.

    October 17, 2013 at 10:24 pm | Report abuse |
  4. RevNowWhileWeCan

    I know what's not surprising. The fact that the Duopoly will keep kicking this debt down the road as long as the world will keep taking the dollar, which won't be for too much longer.

    Hi ladies. Long time no chat. 😀

    October 18, 2013 at 7:22 am | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Hi, Rev. This goes back 30 years, when Reagan started kicking the debt can down the road. We have to cut spending, yes, but we have to raise revenue, also.

      October 18, 2013 at 12:03 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Insert name sideways up your

    Still waiting for big changes, like accountability, to happen here. It will not likely happen in my lifetime, unfortunately.

    October 18, 2013 at 10:43 pm | Report abuse |
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