After a two-day trip to Iraq, Sen. Daniel Akaka said on the Senate floor yesterday that the Bush administration's funding of the war was fiscally irresponsible.

"I am concerned that the administration continues to fund this war through emergency supplemental appropriations," said Akaka, D-Hawaii, according to a news release issued by his Washington office.

"While I support our soldiers currently serving overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I am pleased that this (Senate Armed Services) committee has authorized an additional $81.9 billion for ongoing operations, I believe that the administration's current policy is fiscally irresponsible," Akaka said.

Akaka, one of 23 senators to vote against the war, visited Iraq with U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. Both are co-chairmen of the Senate Army Caucus.

"Unlike true national emergencies and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the funds required for these ongoing operations can be assessed, identified and included in the regular budget process," Akaka said. "It is time for this administration to make the true cost of war transparent to both the Congress and the American public."

The senators received a briefing at Balad air base and visited troops in Baghdad.