House to Defy Bush With Defense Bill

[unhappycamper]

House to Defy Bush With Defense Bill
ANNE FLAHERTY | July 20, 2007 07:03 PM EST


WASHINGTON — House Democrats next week will introduce a $460 billion military spending bill they will use to challenge the war in Iraq, try to close Guantanamo Bay prison and increase oversight of defense contractors.

The annual legislation is considered a must-pass bill to fund the military's fleet of vehicles and aircraft, research efforts and servicemember payrolls. It covers the 2008 budget year that begins Oct. 1.

Overall, the bill is on track to give President Bush much of what he wants. The measure includes nearly $100 billion in procurement spending and would fund several of the Pentagon's big-ticket items, including $3.2 billion to buy 20 F-22 Raptor aircraft.

It also would provide $1.6 billion more than Bush wanted for shipbuilding to buy five new Navy ships; $1.1 billion extra for an eighth Army brigade of Stryker vehicles; and $705 million more than requested for development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

~snip~

The measure does not include Bush's 2008 funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Democrats said they wanted to consider that money in separate legislation this September _ a tactic that leaves open the possibility of refusing to fund the war or attaching strings to the money if progress in Iraq is not made by then.

But Democratic leaders say the annual spending measure is likely to become a magnet for amendments intended to end the Iraq war, including a proposal ordering troop withdrawals.


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[Hubert Flottz]

1. They will keep on until Bush admits he's a dictator and fires them.

[bluestateguy]

2. They should pass the pay raise ASAP

So that people know we favor a 3.5% pay increase, while Bush only favors a 3% increase. Don't let the pay raise get mired in the debate over the supplemental bill for Bush's war(s).