Budget/Appropriations

Senate appropriators have opted to cut just under $500 million from the Pentagon's fiscal 2013 funding request for veterans affairs and military construction. 

The Democrat said the GOP was hoping to avoid defense cuts "on the backs of those who need school lunches."

Last week's marathon markup of the fiscal 2013 defense budget bill was only the beginning as lawmakers plan to reignite debate on several key defense issues when the bill hits the House floor this week. 

House Armed Services Committee chairman Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) wasted no time in responding to a scathing critique by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta of his panel's version of the fiscal 2013 defense budget. 

Read more...

The legislation would reduce the deficit by $243 billion and is a Republican marker for post-election budget talks.

Romney has called for adding 100,000 troops and increasing shipbuilding, and attacked Obama for shrinking the Navy and Air Force.

The House Thursday morning advanced a bill to replace required cuts to defense and social programs with cuts to mandatory programs like food stamps.

Members voted 233-183 along party lines in favor of a rule governing debate for the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act, H.R. 5652. Democrats broadly oppose the bill as a way to let the Defense Department escape another round of cuts.

The bill includes plans for an East Coast missile defense site and a ban on same-sex marriage ceremonies on bases.

House conservatives will be holding their noses as they vote for legislation to replace defense cuts.

The Republican alternative would halt next year’s automatic, across-the-board spending cuts by replacing defense cuts with cuts to social programs.