Congress Approves War Funds

Measure doesn't tie funds to Iraq withdrawals, making Bush veto less likely
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 14, 2007 5:41 PM CST
Congress Approves War Funds
U.S. Army soldiers from Task Force 4-64 Armor watch as medics tend to their seriously wounded colleague at Ibn Sina Hospital in the Green Zone, Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)   (Associated Press)

The Senate today authorized a defense bill providing $506.9 billion for Pentagon programs and $189.4 billion in funding for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars—but no timetables on troop withdrawals, which brought vetoes on earlier efforts. The bill, approved 90-3 by the Senate, expands the army by 13,000 and enhances veterans care programs, with special regard to brain injuries and psychological disorders.

The bill would not fund the war past February, and Senate Republicans are expected to push for $70 billion in appropriations legislation to continue well into 2008—another bill Democrats are expected to fight but eventually support. Today’s measure also authorized $10 billion for European missile defense, but ties the project to parliamentary approval by the countries involved. (More Iraq stories.)

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