Senate to Take Up Big Pentagon Bill

[ProSense]

Source: The New York Times

The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, told colleagues on Monday that he was planning to take up the annual Pentagon authorization bill next week. The bill includes a provision that would allow the Defense Department to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in relation to gay and lesbian soldiers.

Mr. Reid informed the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, of his decision during a meeting on Monday afternoon, aides said.

The Senate is expected to be in session for only four weeks before lawmakers leave Washington to campaign ahead of the November election. And the agenda is already packed with other big issues, including a bill to aid small businesses, a looming debate over the expiring Bush-era tax cuts, and the need to pass a temporary spending measure to finance the government until after the election.

The annual Pentagon authorization bill often requires two weeks or more of floor debate, even without a politically sensitive issue like the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.


Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/senate-to-take-up-big-pentagon-bill/

[msongs]

1. here's the repubs HUGE chance for deficit reduction by slashing the military welfare budget nt

[Owl]

2. For starters, cut the damn "defense" budget by 50%.

[bossy22]

4. and add another 3 million to the unemployment rolls!!!

and while doing that we can also destroy a large portion of a high-tech manufacturing base....YIPPIE!!!!

[Canuckistanian]

3. I thought "Big Pentagon Bill" was some defence contractor

My mistake.