Democrats trim war-funding bill extras

[unhappycamper]

Democrats trim war-funding bill extras
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jun 9, 2008 6:37:13 EDT

Democratic leaders in Congress are cutting extraneous domestic projects from a war-funding bill in hopes that a narrower measure — with funding only for military operations and a costly increase in GI Bill benefits — might avoid a presidential veto.

With Pentagon officials warning that the Army is about to run out of personnel and operating funds, forcing a diversion of money from other services to cover expenses, congressional leaders are trying to craft a compromise emergency supplemental funding bill that will give the military about $180 billion for ongoing operations and will include the 21st Century GI Bill of Rights, a package of hefty increases in education benefits.

But the House and Senate have approved vastly different versions of the bill, making it difficult to negotiate a compromise.

House leaders need the support of conservative Democrats to pass the bill, but that means finding a way to pay for the $52 billion GI Bill benefits package, which could drive away Republican support.

And the White House warns that a veto is likely if Congress passes a bill that attaches strings to the money for the military, including proposals threatening a speedy withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq if Iraqis don’t start covering more reconstruction costs.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/06/airforce_supple_060708p/