Senate panel cuts $4B from defense budget

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Senate panel cuts $4B from defense budget
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 11, 2008 5:55:37 EDT

A Senate subcommittee cut $4 billion from the 2009 defense budget Wednesday in a move that diverts money from the Defense Department to domestic programs.

But lawmakers decided against making an additional $4.4 billion cut in unspent money set aside for reconstruction and security improvements in Iraq.

The $4 billion reduction in the Bush administration’s request, which leaves $487.7 billion for defense programs for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, follows a recent practice by lawmakers to shave money off the regular defense funding bill while depending on supplemental war funding to make up the difference. This maneuver frees money for spending on domestic programs without exceeding federal spending caps.

The shift in funds was a bipartisan decision.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, chairman of the Senate defense appropriations subcommittee that approved the budget by voice vote, said the cut still leaves enough money for priorities, such as personnel and readiness programs, but may reduce money for some weapons programs that are over budget or “are seeking funding that cannot be justified.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/military_defensefunding_cut_091008w/%2e