Congress Nixes Plan to Add $50 Billion War Costs in Defense Bill; Will Fund Separately

By Carlo Muñoz, Jason Simpson / November 6, 2007 at 5:00 AM
Congressional conferees today quashed a plan to fold an additional $50 billion into the $459.6 billion fiscal year 2008 defense appropriations bill to finance wartime operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, opting to allocate those dollars in separate legislation expected to be considered later this week. The legislation, which could be introduced in the House as early as Thursday, would create a "bridge fund" for U.S.-led combat operations in Southwest Asia, House Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairman John Murtha (D-PA) said during...

Not a subscriber? Sign up for 30 days free access to exclusive, behind-the-scenes reporting on defense policy and procurement.

Log in to access this content.