Senate passes defense bill, pay raise

[unhappycamper]

Senate passes defense bill, pay raise
By Laurie Kellman - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Sep 19, 2008 12:25:05 EDT

WASHINGTON — The Senate passed a massive defense bill Wednesday that includes a pay raise for military personnel, despite Republican objections to billions of dollars in special projects lawmakers had added.

Seven weeks from Election Day, blocking the measure in wartime was not a political risk many senators were willing to take. The measure passed 88-8 after negotiations on amendments failed at midday.

Retiring Sen. John Warner of Virginia led the negotiating for Republicans who objected to the added projects, called earmarks. But he, too, said he could not cast a vote that implied disrespect for soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Warner said Democrats and Republicans alike objected to parts of the bill or proposed amendments.

The bill passed Wednesday because it earlier had attained the support of 61 senators — barely clearing the required 60-vote threshold — on a test vote. Following Warner’s lead, a dozen Republicans voted to advance the measure, many of them in tough re-election bids.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/09/ap_defensebill_payraise_091708/%2e

[ixion]

1. "wartime" my ass

just what we need, more money diverted to the MIC. :grr: