By Emelie Rutherford
The Senate frowned on Republican attempts to add weapon-system spending to the massive economic-stimulus bill the chamber worked to pass last night.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) failed Wednesday night in an ambitious attempt to add more than $5 billion in Pentagon procurement funding to the spending-and-tax-cut package. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also made an ill-fated push yesterday for inserting defense-equipment-reset spending.
Democratic lawmakers have argued Pentagon weapons programs should not be funded in the economic-recovery legislation, in part because the efforts spin out too slowly to give a near-term jolt to the economy.
The Senate legislation approved by committee last week includes billions of dollars in Department of Defense (DoD) funding, which is largely for military construction, though there also are some procurement and research-and-development monies for alternative-energy efforts (Defense Daily, Feb. 3). The House-passed bill also includes military- construction and energy-related DoD funds (Defense Daily, Jan. 23).
“We have done well by Defense; we can do better, but we have not ignored our national security, nor the men and women in uniform in this important stimulus package,” Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) said yesterday. He was responding to McCain’s attempt to replace the $900-billion-plus bill with a $421 billion plan, which as of yesterday morning included defense-reset funds.
“We need a lot more (reset),” McCain said.
“Obviously we’re going to have to reset our military,” the Arizona Republican said on the Senate floor. “We need to replace the aging equipment that has been used so heavy in Iraq and will be needed in Afghanistan.”
The Senate was considering modifications to McCain’s amendment as of Defense Daily‘s deadline last night.
In addition, the Senate rejected on Wednesday night Inhofe’s attempt to redirect $5.2 billion in the bill from what he called “frivolous” spending to Pentagon procurement. He sought in an amendment to shift the funds to support the “procurement of aircraft, tracked and non-tracked combat vehicles, missiles, weapons, ammunition, communications equipment, maintenance equipment, naval coastal warfare boats, salvage equipment, riverine equipment, expeditionary material handling equipment, and other expeditionary items.”
He argued for the strategic need for the Air Force’s F-22 and F-35 fighters, and cited his desire to maintain the production lines for programs including the air service’s C- 17 cargo aircraft.
“You have a decision: Do you want to spend $20 million for fish-passage barrier removal, $34 million to renovate the Department of Commerce, or have a strong national defense?,” Inhofe said. “Do you want to spend $13 million to research volunteer activities, or have a strong national defense?”
His argued his amendment would provide “thousands of sustainable American jobs” while rebuilding the military.
Inhofe’s amendment was rejected via a 38-59 procedural vote. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I/D-Conn.) and all but three present Republicans and voted in favor of the vote, while those voting against it included all present Democrats along with Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.).