If it's politics, it's complicated (and misleading)

Politics is complicated. And politicians are champions at confusing voters and taxpayers even more than necessary in efforts to sway support.

Take, for example, President Trump’s recent threat to veto the National Defense Authorization Act.

New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, both Democrats, would have us believe the issue is all about the “toxic mess” the Air Force caused that contaminated water and put a local dairy farmer out of business.

“I was stunned to learn that President Trump is threatening to veto the annual (NDAA) over language requiring the Air Force to assist communities affected by PFAS contamination,” Heinrich wrote in an opinion piece submitted to The Eastern New Mexico News and published today.

To be clear, our federal government’s failure to clean up the contamination it caused on Art Schaap’s property is unconscionable — a family business destroyed, 40 jobs lost, health concerns across the region, and the Department of Defense acts like it can’t be bothered with such triviality.

But while the government’s crushing of a small business is frightening, refusing to act responsibly in cleaning up the mess it made, that’s not nearly the only reason Trump has threatened the veto as suggested by our senators last week.

The president actually listed 44 specific reasons he’s unhappy about the bill the House passed on Friday.

The water contamination caused by Air Force facilities is the 23rd item on that long list.

The president’s greatest concern is that the funding authorized by the bill is $17 billion less than the amount requested, which “would not fully support critical national security priorities.”

The threat of veto is mostly about funding for border security.

It’s a long way from reaching the president’s desk. The Senate version includes the extra $17 billion Trump wants, “and does not include several provisions designed to limit Trump’s power to shift military funds for use in building the wall or to deploy troops to work on the border,” according to Reuters news service.

Heinrich, in his opinion piece, is certainly correct when he writes that “the Department of Defense has a responsibility to clean up after itself and an obligation to protect the public health of military communities like Clovis.”

But suggesting that’s the reason Trump may not sign the bill is misleading at best.

One more reminder that government is great at muddying the waters — literally and figuratively.

— David Stevens

Publisher