The war supplement bill, which will be used to fund the War with Iraq, has left the House and Senate appropriators in a malevolent battle over pork spending.  Pet projects and pork barreling have found their way in the Senate’s version of the bill to the tune of $1.7 billion more than the House’s proposal. The proposed added funding by the Senate has left tempers flared between Senate and House conferencees who must reconcile the two versions.

Ridiculous requests by the Senate include everything from Sen. Patrick J. Leahy’s (D-Vt.) request for $3.3 million to repair a leaking damn in Waterbury, Vt. to a provision backed by Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) allowing catfish farmers to share in a $250 million drought aid program.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) was still enraged on Wednesday over an exchange with House members during a meeting the night before. “I’m sorry we repealed the law on dueling,” the Chairman said. “I’d have shot a couple of the sons of bitches.”

We know Sen. Stevens loves his pork, but we didn’t know he is willing to fight to the death for it.