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Friday, June 09, 2006
War Funding Methods Draw Increased Criticism
We haven't commented on this issue in a while, but the criticisms of the methods used by this administration to fund the wars in Iraq and Afhganistan have not gone away. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is the latest to throw his hat into the ring - announcing Thursday he intends to introduce an amendment to this year's Defense Authorization bill that would force the Pentagon to request war funds through the annual budget process.
McCain is just the latest in a growning group of lawmakers - both Democrat and Republican - who are displeased with the repeated use of emergency supplemental spending bills to fund the war effort.
In 2004, McCain, Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner (R-VA) and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) and other Republicans joined with Democrats to pass an amendment to that years supplemental urging the administration to change its practices, but it did not require the Defense Department to alter its future request.
Apparently McCain has decided enough is enough. Kudos to him for leading the charge.
Posted by Adam Hughes
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