Congress Sends Obama War Spending Bill

$106 Billion Bill Ensures Military Will Have Funding To Fight Wars In Iraq And Afghanistan, Funds "Cash For Clunkers" Program

(AP)  Congress on Thursday sent President Barack Obama a massive spending bill aimed at ensuring that the military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan won't run out of money in the coming months.

The $106 billion emergency war bill also branches off to provide money for programs ranging from pandemic flu preparedness to a "cash for clunkers" initiative to encourage drivers to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles.

The Senate passed the measure on a one-sided 91-5 vote despite complaints from several senators about the add-ons that pushed the total more than $20 billion above the funding request Obama made two months ago. The House approved the bill on Wednesday by a much closer 226-202 vote.

The White House and its Democratic allies insisted that this will be the last time Congress will be compelled to pass an emergency war bill, or supplemental, that is outside the normal budget process and thus goes directly to an increase in the national debt.

Congress has passed such bills every year since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and with enactment of this legislation the amount will near $1 trillion, with about 70 percent going to the conflict in Iraq.

Obama has said that in the future all war operation expenses will be incorporated in the Defense Department budget.

The bill includes about $80 billion to finance the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through this fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. The Pentagon has predicted that the Army could begin running out of money for personnel and operations as early as July without the infusion of more money.

It also provides $4.5 billion, $1.9 billion above what the president requested, for lightweight mine-resistant vehicles, called MRAPs, and $2.7 billion for eight C-17 and seven C-130 cargo planes that the Pentagon did not ask for.

On the nonmilitary front, there's $10.4 billion in development and other aid for Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and numerous other countries; $7.7 billion for pandemic flu preparedness; and $721 million to pay off what the U.S. owes for U.N. peacekeeping operations.

The bill almost foundered in the House over Republican objections to the inclusion of $5 billion to set up a U.S. line of credit for an International Monetary Fund loan program for poor countries hit by the world recession.

In the Senate, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and others threatened to hold up the bill because the final House-Senate compromise removed a provision prohibiting the release of photos showing U.S. troops abusing detainees.

Graham ended his objections after the Senate approved a separate bill banning publication of the photos and the White House assured him that Obama would classify the photos to prevent their release.

The final obstacle was removed earlier Thursday when the Senate voted 60-36 to waive a procedural objection by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., against the $1 billion for the "cash for clunkers" program. Sixty votes were needed to prevent Gregg from succeeding and sending the bill back to the House for another vote.

"Why should our grandchildren have to pay for cars we're going to buy today from people?" Gregg asked.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., also said the bill "contains billions of dollars in unrequested spending that is largely unjustified and is certainly non-emergency." In addition to the auto program providing government rebates for those trading in old cars for more fuel-efficient models, he mentioned $13 million to provide air service to rural communities and $35 million for the FBI to fight mortgage fraud.

But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., urged support for the package, saying it was not just a matter of numbers. "This bill also contains our commitment to strengthening our military, rebuilding our relationships with key allies around the world and reducing key security threats," he said.

[babooph]

The voters screamed for change,the military industrial complex screamed for money & more cannon fodder -look who got their way -JUST LIKE IKE WARNED!!!

[TheMasses0004]

by flopez5 June 18, 2009 5:55 PM PDT
lastdance154, You worship the Lord of the Flies, I presume.
----------------------------
Yes.
Truly a psycho.

[impeachbhb]

Have no fear. Obama will not sign it. This bill contains add ons and he promised during the campaign not to sign bills with add ons. Obama keeps all of his promises.

There is a lot of concern about the deficit. When is Obama going to finish his line by line review of the federal budget? We need all of the savings by eliminating wasteful spending he told us about during the campaign.

[gravyboat3000]

wdh3007

What in the hell are you talking about? As if to say, all of these issues STARTED with President Obama's Presidency?

You need to resign from CBS, and go to Fox.

Hannity's conducting, "how to lie to your fans, and make them love you more", webinars, RIGHT NOW!

[wdh3007]

Cash for clunkers is this what our governmemt has come too what an embarassment this administration is. We have South Korea and Hawaii on alert due to North Korean missile strikes we have Iran in upheavel of voter fraud with a president who wants to wipe Israel and possibly America off the map with nukes. With troops still in Iraq and gas prices on the rise followed by an unemployment rate at 9.4% and rising coupled with the governement takeover of the auto and health industry what more can be said. BO needs to either stand aside or resign and let Joe Biden takeover.

[the74blaster]

I love how you attempt to rewrite history when the facts state otherwise.

I mean come on! Are you telling us the North Korea is so advanced technically that they can develop a nuclear weapon and all these missiles in 150 days?

That is total Bull. These WMDs were developed during Bushs watch. Who can blame them with the BS foriegn policy the Bush administration is famous for?

The rising unemployment rate is also indicative of how lame the Bush administration was. Consider that the Bush administration did not even recognize there was a recession until the banks started failing last October.

I am sure the intent of the Bush administration was to keep the collapse of the banking system from us until after the election, but the banks could not hold out that long.

The point being is how can you solve a problem if you refuse to recognize its existance.

The mass unemployment is symptom that originates with a president that had no competence when dealing with domestic issues.

I'll take my chances with Obama because its very obvious the GOP presidential offerings do not have a clue in terms of rebuilding an economy or managing a debt.

[gravyboat3000]

by gulliberal June 18, 2009 5:08 PM PDT
You mean Obummer isn't going to just END the wars as promised? SHOCKER! You mean Obummer is going to read each bill "line by line" to cut out PORK? SHOCKER!

You mean Keith alGoreberman was "putting lipstick" on a Kenyan pig? Say it isn't so.........

________

Wow, you ain't to bright, is ya?

Obama didn't say he'd end the Iraq war the second he took office, and he NEVER said he would end the war in Afghanistan, on the contrary, he promised to send more troops there, as he's already begun to do.

Take off your partisan blinders.

(ya may sound a bit smarter if ya do)...

[gravyboat3000]

by tautomer June 18, 2009 3:49 PM PDT
LMAO..no pork, huh? Another Obama promise broken!!!!!
_______

This, "clunker", program would be a nation wide effort, isn't pork a State issue, with specific Senators and Congressman looking out for their districts and States?

And the clunker thing sucks, just sayin...

[gravyboat3000]

by gulliberal June 18, 2009 4:47 PM PDT
I'll get us out of Iraq and Afghanistan, right after this next $110 billion - and all the libtards ate it up! But then again, they also believe humans cause global warming...LMFAO!

google: ice, melting, Mars. Then google: galactic equator, alignment
______

I just googled uranus, and it said ,"see black hole".

???

[speakinup22]

Wasn't one of President Obama's promises to leave Iraq immediately ?


Has anyone noticed how gasoline is getting a mite bit close to $3 a gallon ? I have to wonder if our liberal friends feel he is trying to make the oil companies rich, like they claimed Dubya was.

Yup, so how's that "change" and hope working for ya'll now ?

[the74blaster]

The problem with gasoline is big oil is manipulating the markets by controlling the supply. If they refine less and create a shortage the price goes up.

However, I have the solution to address this.

What Obama should do is require that anyone purchasing crude oil or gasoline futures have a federal license to do so. After all gasoline is hazardous material (DOT Flammable liquid) and storing it represents a significant fire hazard.

I would propose that anyone purchasing futures must be able to accept delivery of the amount they are purchasing with government approved storage facilities. These facilities should be inspected on an annual basis to verify they are able to store flammable liquids without compromising public health, safety and welfare. Clinton should make this a global requirement by pushing it through the UN as well so offshore folks cannot continue with this dangerour practice.

After all, Gasoline in the hands of a terrorist could become a dreadful weapon of mass destruction since gasoline fumes are explosive. Based on this I would expect the GOP to jump all over this so we can deprive the terrorists of a potential WMD.

[stn_sage]

I would have voted AGAINST it!

IF it's a War Spending Bill, then it should be on war spending! Makes sense, huh? NOT an additional $26 billion on miscellaneous, non-emergency spending!

Particularly offending is Lindsey Graham's cover-up of potential criminal acts by U.S. military personnel by classifying photos!

We can't be the moral and ethical example of the world when we do that, Mr. Graham! I know as a Republican, you've never had a problem holding in mind two ideas which were diametrically opposed, and being able to consider them to be both true and valid! You're quite amazing!

Also, there is the problem of billions in AID to other countries and organizations! Have all the claims resulting from Katrina---years ago---and flooding in the upper Midwest---been resolved yet?! I thought not!

Maybe we should be rectifying our nations' problems first BEFORE
we spend money on building EVERYONE else's nations up?!

This is just a suggestion---but one that is likely to have overwhelming support from the vast majority of Americans!