House Approves $690 Billion Defense Bill

[sasha031]

The House has passed a $690 billion defense bill that limits President Barack Obama's authority on reducing nuclear weapons and deciding what to do with terrorist suspects.

The vote was 322-96 on Thursday.

The broad defense blueprint would provide a 1.6 percent increase in military pay, fund an array of aircraft, ships and submarines, increase health care fees slightly for working-age military retirees and meet the Pentagon's request for $119 billion to fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Final passage came shortly after the House narrowly rejected a measure requiring an accelerated timetable and exit strategy for withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

The bill must be reconciled with a Senate version. The Senate Armed Services Committee will begin crafting its bill the week of June 13.
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/26/136687716/house-approves-690-billion-defense-bill?ft=1&f=1001&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[sudopod]

1. well, then. :/ nt

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Guess the country's not broke after all.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Just a guess: the Senate will add $10B

Triangulation.

[Autumn]

4. Isn't it wonderful to be so well off we

can spend this money for our "defense"? I'm sure they can come up with more cuts to safety nets for the poor, elderly and unemployed to balance it out.

:grr:

[Terry in Austin]

5. Running an empire ain't cheap

But hey, what else would you want to spend a fat half-trillion on?

:eyes:

[Bragi]

6. Has this been approved by Chinese debt holders? /nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Will that include the money to build monuments to the dead cannon fodder?

The kind the generals and politicians get all teary eyed over when cheering on the next slaughter?

[hifiguy]

8. Well, that's a part of it.

The total "defense/intelligence" budget is somewhere around $1.3 TRILLION per annum.

But there's no money for the tornado-stricken folks in Joplin. :crazy:

[gratuitous]

9. Psssst! Eric Cantor! I think I know where you can find some cost offsets

You're saying that the federal government shouldn't help tornado victims unless they can offset the cost of disaster relief with cuts in other programs? I have a suggestion for where you can focus your beady little eyes.

[obxhead]

10. Offense Bill.

Our military has been in a solid offensive position for the past decade. It could be argued it has been in an offensive position since 1941.

They should call it what it is.

[patrice]

11. back-door auto-funding for Presidents to freelance Wars 'r' U.S., where/whenever sans Congress?

I wonder if that provision made it out of the House appropriations committee.

[Gregorian]

12. Like an addict.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bvar22]

14. Who are the 96 patriots?

I'll add them to the list of those who voted against the IWR.

[kentuck]

15. How is it possible....?

that we are in a debt crisis and talking about ending Medicare cutting every program that helps people and then they vote $690 billion for defense??? How do they do that? Wouldn't $100 billion be rather extravagant under the circumstances??

[sarcasmo]

16. Never any talk of cutting the Defense budget.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. USA! USA! USA!

:puke: