Where our taxes are going: to the Pentagon, $416 billion for next year

[Eric J in MN]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/4845970.html

Senate approves billions for Pentagon next year
Alan Fram, Associated Press
June 25, 2004 CONG0625

The Senate voted Thursday for a $416 billion Pentagon spending bill for next year that includes a $25 billion down payment for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and extra money to add 20,000 Army troops and equipment.

The legislation closely tracks a defense authorization bill the Senate approved Wednesday night that lays out next year's government-wide defense programs, which are expected to total $447 billion. Unlike the bill passed Thursday, however, the government-wide defense measure included the Energy Department's nuclear weapons program and military construction projects.