Texas Republican To Press For $705 Billion Defense Budget
WASHINGTON (AP) - A powerful House Republican is set to press his case for $705 billion in military spending next year.
The Armed Services Committee chairman, congressman Mac Thornberry of Texas, is pushing for a defense budget that's larger than at any point during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And it's a level of spending that even a number of his GOP colleagues don't support.
Thornberry's blueprint is scheduled to be released Monday.
He says the increase is needed to repair a military that's been at almost continuous combat since 2001.
Thornberry's plan will propose $37 billion above what President Donald Trump requested for core Pentagon operations plus another $65 billion for warfighting missions.
Conservatives who dominate the House Budget Committee have agreed on a budget outline that promises $20 billion less.
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