(GOP) Senators craft FY07 budget with $457 bln for defense (+ ANWAR)

[UpInArms]

http://today.reuters.com/misc/PrinterFriendlyPopup.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=uri:2006-03-09T204615Z_01_N09196048_RTRIDST_0_JF-ECONOMY-BUDGET-CONGRESS.XML

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - The Pentagon would get a substantial funding increase next year in the budget moving through the Senate, while Democrats on Thursday failed to stop a controversial proposal to allow more oil and gas drilling in Alaska.

Under the Republican-backed fiscal 2007 budget, defense funding would hit $457.1 billion, about $18 billion more than requested by President George W. Bush last month and a $25 billion increase from this year's budget.

That total could climb even higher, depending on U.S. military costs next year in Iraq and Afghanistan, which the panel estimated at about $90 billion.

Budget Committee Republicans boasted that defense spending would be "double that of 1998 and well above the Cold War average."

The Senate Budget Committee planned to finish writing the massive budget plan on Thursday, with a Senate floor debate on the measure expected next week. The budget blueprint is nonbinding but it does shape congressional spending decisions.

...more...

(edited to add ANWAR to title line)

[MadMaddie]

1. They are bankrupting America.....for this war of choice!!

[saigon68]

3. They are putting Billions in their own pockets

For doing it

[UpInArms]

4. and destroying all that is left of our country - see Post #2

:grr:

[UpInArms]

2. more - because the Pigs are sneaking ANWAR into the Budget Bill

On a party-line vote, Democrats failed to remove a provision that would open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for energy development.

The measure was tucked into the budget so that under obscure Senate rules it could be approved on a simple majority vote. A similar Republican tactic last year was ultimately foiled by moderate Republicans in the House of Representatives who opposed the drilling.

[MadMaddie]

5. They are sneaky, sneaky bastards...

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. What if spent this money on health care for everyone

affordable housing, disaster preparation, alternative energy, etc? Certainly we would all be a lot healthier and safer. Oh no, can't do that, then the cheaters and liars wouldn't have unlimited resources to continue their destruction.

[Mithras61]

7. Umm... If they did that...

then they would have about $400bln for the War Dept.

Have you seen Jerry's (of Ben 'n' Jerry') Oreo Cookies flash animation?

[shoelace414]

8. So USA would spend more on our military the THE REST OF THE WORLD COMBINED

[rodeodance]

9. damm

while Democrats on Thursday failed to stop a controversial proposal to allow more oil and gas drilling in Alaska.

[Mithras61]

10. It's kinda sick, isn't it?

I mean, it's like some weird obsession with them that they just GOTTA drill in ANWR. What's UP with that?

[MasonJar]

11. I am calling my stinkin' Pug rep and my really smelly Senators.

Two of which are running this year; I am going to inform them that I am going to advertise in every paper I can reach that they voted to drill in ANWAR. The majority of American citizens are against that drilling. I am going to do the ads too. I will start as soon as they vote for this filthy business.