House Democrats Expect $50 Billion Additional FY08 Pentagon Request

Along with the president's budget expected to be delivered in the first week in February and the fiscal year 2007 war supplemental bill estimated at roughly $100 billion, House Democratic aides are expecting a third additional "war budget" request for fiscal year 2008 to be submitted on the same day.

In the last two years, Congress has given $50 billion and $70 billion, respectively, for bridge funds to finance the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and to help the Defense Department get through about half of the year before a full emergency supplemental bill could be taken up by Congress.

"It is our expectation that along with the '08 base budget," says one House aide, "there will be some additional request for '08 supplemental funding. I would say $50 billion is minimum."

By Silla Brush