Sometimes, in politics, a rose really is a rose - not to mention a rose...

Naturally, I'm surveying yesterday's Daily Digest in search of next week's business - nothing happens on Fridays in Nancy's five day work week paradise, natch: they're all too busy grubbing for moolah!

And see that the Senate will be processing HR 1495, the Water Resources Development Act.

The bill authorizes various water projects to be done by the Army Corps of Engineers. The CBO estimate (see THOMAS page for HR 1495) puts the 15 year cost at $15bn.

(Around the Pentagon budget for paperclips over the period.)

The WH, intoxicated with its new role as miser, after years as spendthrift, is uttering dark warnings.

Where are the bodies buried?

The bill whipped through the House under a modified closed rule on April 19; cloture on the motion to proceed was invoked on Thursday.

The CQ piece says that there are

several controversial amendments anticipated.

Of course, it doesn't take a lot of spons to satisfy some folks. Perhaps these amendments to come really are controversial.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist - honest! But - if I were - I'd suggest that the sort of bill you'd use to rob Uncle Sam would be a harmless-looking number like HR 1495.

(Does that really cast Bush in the role of savior of the public purse? Stranger things have happened - I'm sure...)