It was most distressing to tune into C-SPAN 2 yesterday and witness our senior Senator go on about Pay-go and Swiss cheese. The best I could determine, he was inveighing against the policy of paying for domestic projects (unlike the wars that are being paid for with borrowed money) with tax revenues or allocations from other programs because it wasn't being strictly adhered to. That is, he doesn't like it to begin with and likes it even less because, in his judgment it's not working as intended. OK.
In addition, Senator Gregg, the previous chair of the Senate Budget Committee that's overseen an increase in the national debt from five trillion to nine in the time Republicans have been in charge, waxed enthusiastic about the fact that federal tax collections have actually increased (never mind that's what one would expect as long as the population was going up), but failed to mention that the increase is in dollars that are worth increasingly less.
UPDATE: Video
Be that as it may, Senator Gregg's Swiss cheese presentation does not seem to be available on video. What is available on his web site is a press release about all of the money that's flowing into the Granite state to "support" our military and the on-going war on terror. Perhaps someone else will want to inquire how many jobs these dollars actually represent. Somehow, I have my doubts about the Autnomous Underwater Systems Institute in Lee, NH, but that's just me--suspicious.
Senators Gregg and Sununu Announce Senate Approval Of $66 Million For NH Initiatives-Contains Funding For Upper Valley And Northern NH Companies
November 9, 2007
Animetrics Inc., Conway - $2.4 million for the development of a prototype face recognition system to help conclusively identify persons of interest in combat areas.
Team O'Neil, Dalton - $1.6 million to accelerate the development and demonstration of several systems for synthetic driver skills training, semi- autonomous ground combat systems, and vehicle active safety systems.
Timken Aerospace, Lebanon - $2.4 million for research and development directed at developing improved high speed, long life bearings for critical U.S. military applications.
And in central and souther NH.
BAE Systems, Nashua - $14.5 million for the development of communications jamming equipment, aircraft protection systems, and combat weapons systems, including the Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System, Compass Call, counter missile warning systems for Army helicopters, and the advanced threat alert system.
Diaphorm Technologies LLC, Salem - $2.4 million for research and development directed towards improving the ballistic protection and overall functionality of the U.S. Army's next generation combat helmet.
DRS Codem Systems, Merrimack - $2.4 million for research and development directed to improving the Joint Threat Warning System/Ground Surveillance Kit which is used by ground and Special Operations Forces.
Gentex Corp., Derry - $2.4 million to produce light vehicle intercom systems which provide clear and reliable, internal communication for crewmembers in Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. These MRAP vehicles provide their passengers with increased protection from improvised explosive devices.
EDO - Impact Science & Technology, Inc., Hollis - $2.4 million to accelerate development of a Multi-User Panoramic Synthetic Vision System which would provide 360 degree visual situational awareness for military personnel from within the protection of their vehicles.
Granite State Manufacturing, Manchester - $1.6 million for production of the MK-30 Mod2 Anti-Submarine Warfare Training System to more effectively identify and address the threats of modern submarines.
Insight Technology, Inc., Londonderry - $12.1 million for the production of several different types of thermal and infrared sights and sensors to assist Special Operations Forces personnel in their identification of targets during night time and reduced visibility conditions.
Klein Associates, Inc., Salem - $1 million for the development of Low-Cost, High Resolution, remote controlled Side Scan Sonar for USV and Harbor Surveillance Applications.
Nanocomp Technologies, Concord - $1.6 million to accelerate the development of multifunctional carbon nanotube composites systems to increase the survivability and lethality of military weapons systems by creating strong, lightweight structural composites.
Polartec (Malden Mills), Lawrence, MA - $5.2 million for the production of fleece insulated liners for the U.S. Army's extended cold weather clothing systems and production of the Marine Corps' Multi Climate Protection Systems.
Optics1, Manchester - $1.2 million to accelerate research and development of a collective aperture multi-band sensor system to assist in the acquisition of real time surveillance by the warfighter.
Scientific Solutions Incorporated, Nashua - $1.2 million to accelerate the design and test of a Swimmer Detection Sonar Network for the U.S. Navy.
Segway, Bedford - $800,000 to produce mobility devices to be evaluated as remote controlled vehicle and platform technology subsystems. These systems could be used to detect and destroy improvised explosive devices as well as provide an alternative to the use infantrymen during certain operations.
Solid State Scientific Corp., Nashua - $3.2 million for research and development directed at increasing the survivability and lethality of U.S. military airborne assets by providing multi-color infrared sensors for identification and countermeasures to multiple threats including man portable missiles.
Vibro-Meter, Londonderry - $1.6 million for research directed at developing a fire, flood and smoke damage assessment and countermeasures system for Navy ships.
Warwick Mills, New Ipswich - $1.6 million for research and development to accelerate the development of chemical-biological protective integrated materials for tent structures for U.S. military personnel.
and on the Seacoast
Autonomous Underwater Systems Institute, Lee - $1.2 million to initiate the establishment of an Autonomous Undersea Vehicle Applications Center. This center will allow Autonomous Undersea Vehicle systems to perform experiments and conduct relevant operations.
Wilcox Industries Corp., Newington - $3.2 million for the production of a helmet mounted video recording system to provide increased capabilities for Naval Special Warfare operators to record data and disseminate intelligence.
