A new compromise defense bill appears poised to pass the House this week but could stall in the Senate again next week, threatening the Defense Department’s ability to pay its troops combat pay and putting at risk the Navy’s aircraft carrier program, which would have to stop work next year without a cost cap increase included in the defense bill. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) and Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-Okla.) both used…
