Fortress Farm - The Pullback
Page 6
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CAPITOL BUILDING – HOUSE CHAMBER
FEDERAL DC – FREE ZONE
“You’re a freakin' liar, Reed! A spineless little weasel that ought to be crushed!” Senator Mark Jacobs from Florida stood red-faced, looking like murder. “I agreed to this monstrosity because you agreed that the money would be distributed by the states, not those idiots at the Interior! Do you understand how FUBAR this whole thing is going to be?”
Reed held up a hand to pause, “Mark, I didn’t know about that part either. Believe me. But listen, it does have some logic to it. President Aguilar promised me that everything, and I mean everything, will be rubber-stamped for the next two weeks. In fact, I understand that the mayor of Miami already has four projects in to the Interior Secretary right now.”
Jacobs was boiling. “So you and I didn’t know anything about this, but Mayor Lopez already has projects in to be approved. Don’t you find that a bit odd?”
“Mark, I’m only surprised that you are surprised. You know the kind of guy the President is and you know better than to cross him. This was going to happen, one way or the other. Trust me, I got the best deal for us that I could.”
Jacobs sighed and looked around. He knew that people were watching both of them now. Anyone with a working cell phone had it on, waiting for something to record and post on NewsWatch.
“Okay, Mr. Speaker. What now? How do I make sure my stuff gets on top of the pile?”
“Well, Senator Jacobs, get your list over to my aide tonight. The President has promised to hand my file directly to the Secretary of the Interior at their AM Cabinet meeting. I’ll make sure your projects are in there also.”
“Well, that’s something. Any chance I can find out what Lopez’s list was so I can duplicate it and make it look like it was my idea?” Jacobs asked.
Speaker of the House Thomas Reed looked at him regally and smiled. “That’s the spirit, Mr. Senator! I’ll see what I can do.”