National Security Legislative Wrap-up

This week, both the Senate and the House are expected to take up the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution. Both Budget Committees approved the Bush Administration's request: $542 billion for defense budget authority (function 050 in the budget) plus $70 billion as a down payment for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While some Members of Congress may try to increase the Iraq and Afghanistan money to a more realistic total of about $170 billion for the next fiscal year, the President's overall defense total is likely to be endorsed. In contrast, the House Budget Resolution includes $37 billion for the international affairs budget.

Over the weekend, the President vetoed the bill barring waterboarding by the intelligence community, and there are not sufficient votes to overcome the veto.