The Daily Background
| Fact Check: Will funding for the troops really run out in mere days?
by Arlen Parsa
The President’s supplemental Iraq & Afghanistan funding bill is being dubbed as an “emergency provision” and the White House is urging its passage as soon as possible. NYT’s The Cacus blog today:
Mr. Bush and Dana Perino, the deputy press secretary for the White House, have said in recent days that money for the troops would start to run out in mid-April. Ms. Perino indicated that the Pentagon would have to slow down training and maintenance at home in order to shift money around, hampering military readiness.
But is that really true? Here’s NYT reporting today:
The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service has estimated that the Army has enough budget flexibility to pay for its military operations through July in the event that a standoff between the White House and Congress over Iraq holds up the money the administration says it needs for the war effort.
The service’s report, made public Friday by Senate Democrats, said the Pentagon may have to shift money between accounts and curtail some nonessential activities, but said Congress has provided the military with new ability to do so, lessening the potential for disruptions until additional money is approved.
I doubt the fight between Congress and Bush will last anywhere near July however.
