Senators pledge to end war supplementals (put the cost of war back in budget)

[Robbien]

<snip>

In his piece in the Washington Post, Hagel said the use of such bills every year to pay for predictable costs associated with the war on terrorism, "minimizes responsible congressional oversight and allows the administration to duck tough questions in defending its policies."

He accused the GOP-controlled Congress of having "abdicated its oversight responsibility in the past four years."

Emergency supplemental bills, unlike regular appropriations, are not considered by the authorizing committees, and do not count towards the spending caps mandated by balanced budget legislation.

An amendment promoted earlier this year by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., which passed the Senate overwhelmingly, called on the president to include the costs of the war on terror in the regular budget, and end the use of supplementals.

The next supplemental request, for the financial year 2007, will likely be delivered alongside the 2008 budget request next year, and lawmakers will have a chance to make good on their pledge.

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20061126-065026-3972r

[williesgirl]

1. Every anticipated expense should be in the budget, subject to debate and CHANGE

recommended

[lapfog_1]

2. Will they make the CBO go back and restate all the numbers?

And if they do, how much of an increase to the debt ceiling is needed? (If any, since I have no idea how these accounting shell games happen)

[savemefromdumbya]

3. where does the money from these 'supplementals' come from?

borrowed from where?

[marmar]

4. China, Japan and the U.K.

And they're not getting much return on their investment.

[savemefromdumbya]

5. didn't think Britain had any money to invest?

[Eurobabe]

6. with pound sterling at 1.93 to 1 USD, it's like WAL-MART at war

Price rollbacks everywhere! Half-off, today only.

[savemefromdumbya]

8. wow is it really at 1.93

whew

[Eurobabe]

9. 1.9380 to be exact, and the Euro is at 1.3120

Jaybus. This is getting serious! I love that the Euro is going up, dh is making 2x as much as he was in US. WOOHOO!!

Bad for the US though. They've got to stop the bleeding. Great site for money/currencies news: www.dailypfennig.com

[marmar]

7. Their banks do.

n/t

[pinto]

10. Good move. The Bush Administration's been using supplementals to avoid oversight, and

mandated spending caps for way too long.

[tbyg52]

11. YES!!!

I am sick and tired of this voodoo accounting.