AMVETS National Executive Director Stewart Hickey was ticked off.
While the Department of Defense has money to call 350,000 employees back to work, and buy a $47,000 mechanical bull, they don’t have the funding for our fallen families…. This is such a travesty that I am barely able to remain civil when I think about it.
Me ride bull. Me cool.
Can this be true? Yup! From the GSA (see left menu):
Sept. 4--The National Guard – Utah requires the following items, Brand Name or Equal, to the following:
LI 001: We are seeking purchase Mechanical Bull Sales bull which needs to be durable & low maintenance. Seeking brand name or equal see attached specifications.
Oct. 7 (Day 7 of shutdown)–Contract Award Dollar Amount: $47,174.00
MECHANICAL BULL SALES, INC [DUNS: 782182203],220 Region Court,State College PA 16801
Oct. 10 (after publicity) Cancelled.
This was an Army contract. Someone’s fury made a difference–for now.
asknod
Bethanie Spangenberg
kcraveiro
robinhoodesqvetsatty
Wesley McCauley
Veterans Claims Help 
When those in leadership across the public, private, and non-profit sectors become frugal (like we are) and stop throwing away money on non-essentials, conferences, and extravagant expenditures, tax breaks for corporations, and stop taking money/gifts from special interests who buy their votes, we can have a balanced budget again. Maybe in a few months.
The mechanical bull for example, was used by guard recruiters at fairs. Their old one broke down. Well, as the old Yankee adage says, “use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” # 1. It was either too much trouble to repair it OR they didn’t have the mechanical skills. If they can’t fix a fake bull, how can they maintain their more complicated equipment? #2 If the only way your recruiters can get youth to talk to them, is by letting them ride a bull for free, they are probably not going to make good soldiers. And that free ride isn’t free. U. S. Gov. taxpayers (almost) paid for that foolishness. Let a VSO buy them a new bull if they need it that bad to attract high school kids but I’d rather see the money go to the veterans home.
They had enought money to take US to War with three weeks ago, guess the American People Stopped that one, so They Shut US down,Guess the bankers were Pissed, Wait till they try and raise the debit and We say NO