Bush seeking $401.7 billion for defense budget in 2005

[UpInArms]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=20214

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Bush administration is asking Congress for $401.7 billion to fund defense programs in fiscal 2005 — a 7 percent increase over the $375.3 billion request for 2004.

The budget includes a 3.5 percent pay raise for servicemembers and the elimination of all out-of-pocket housing costs, but nothing is earmarked for operations in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Pentagon officials said they will come back to Congress to request supplemental funds for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom — but not until 2005, a senior defense official told Pentagon reporters Friday.

The official denied that the Bush administration intended the delayed supplemental request to downplay the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars before the November elections.

<snip>

Space-based missile defense, a longer-term initiative dear to the Bush administration’s heart, was boosted from $7.7 billion to $9.2 billion, despite delays in the program.

...more...

[Laughing Mirror]

1. Out-of-pocket housing costs eliminated

What does this mean? Someone please explain.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

2. that does NOT include $ ammounts needed for the Iraq war/reconstruction

[bif]

3. Make sure you cut even more taxes, ya idiot!

That's the way we do things in our household. When I lost my job, we went out and spent a whole shitload of money! NOT!

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. Bush is desperate to defer all the bad news until 2005

The results of the "investigation",the money needed to continue in Iraq. It makes me wonder just how horrible it might get in 2005 if he actually is elected, since this is just the old stuff. What kind of new problems do they have in store for us?