Senate OKs $355 billion for defense

By Jim Abrams
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Senate increased defense spending by the largest amount in decades yesterday, approving $355.4 billion for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said Hawai'i's military will get $683 million. Advertiser library photo

The vote came as the Republican-controlled House, badly divided with the Democratic Senate over nondefense budgetary issues, decided to go home until after the Nov. 5 election.

Inouye, D-Hawai'i, chairman of the Senate Appropri- ations defense subcommittee, said it was "imperative we pass this bill before we recess" to ensure the military has the support it needs as it prepares for possible war with Iraq.

The defense bill boosts spending by $34.4 billion over last year's level, reflecting the increased needs of the war on terrorism and a possible conflict with Iraq. It was the largest real growth in the defense budget since the Reagan administration.

The bill, which senators passed 93-1, goes to President Bush for his signature. The lone dissenting vote in the Senate was cast by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis. The House approved the measure last week by 409-14.

"This defense budget will provide our troops with the best pay, the best equipment and the best possible training," Bush said in a statement. "It also sends an important signal that we are committed to defending freedom and defeating terror."

The defense measure increases spending in almost every area, from weapons procurement to payroll. It includes a 4.1 percent pay raise for military personnel and nearly all the $7.4 billion Bush requested to keep developing a national missile-defense system.

The defense bill is only the second of the 13 annual spending bills that Congress has passed. The other bill was also military-related, providing $10.5 billion for military construction projects.

With the White House and Senate Democrats unable to agree on spending levels for nondefense federal programs, there was little chance of Congress enacting other appropriations bills before the elections.

The House yesterday, in a 228-172 vote, approved a fourth temporary spending measure to keep agencies operating at current-year levels until Nov. 22. The Senate approved the measure by voice vote.

After the vote, the House recessed until the week after the election. Republican leaders said they were prepared to come back before that if the Senate acted on spending bills or other pending legislation, such as a bill to create a homeland security department.

House Republicans have insisted that spending for the 13 appropriations bills be held within the president's goal of $759 billion. Senate Democrats say that is unrealistic because of needs in education, health, environment and other programs, and are demanding at least another $9 billion.