McCain wants military funded for year, clear of stopgaps

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he will present an amendment to provide defense and war spending for the remainder of the year, if Congress attempts to pass a second two-week stopgap spending measure to prevent a government shutdown.

"If we are going to embark on another two-week continuing resolution, as it appears reports indicate to be the case, then I will be compelled to propose an amendment which will then fund our nation's national security requirements for the remainder of the year," McCain said in a floor speech late Wednesday afternoon.

McCain said his amendment would cost about $530 billion for normal defense appropriations and $159 billion to provide for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

McCain added that he was willing to allow a few billion dollars in cuts to military spending in places where money was being used for non-military purposes, but he said the wars could not be properly waged on a two-week by two-week basis.

The Senate adjourned at 7:03 p.m. on Wednesday and is slated to return at 10 a.m. on Thursday.  There is no legislation pending on the floor as the Patent Reform Act was passed on Monday and both budget proposals failed to reach cloture on Wednesday afternoon.

The first vote on Thursday will occur at 2:15 p.m. on the confirmation of a North Carolina district judge nominee.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) will deliver his maiden speech at 10:30 a.m.

-- This story was updated at 7:07 p.m. on Wednesday.