The Senate Republican leader and a leading GOP voice on defense issues said Wednesday that they will block any short-term bills funding the federal government after the one being considered this week unless they are accompanied by a resolution funding the Defense Department through the end of the fiscal year in September.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced the move during an exchange on the Senate floor Wednesday morning.
"We can't do this to the men and women who are serving to deprive them of the equipment, the training and the wherewithal when we're in two wars, and it's vital in my view that we not allow another continuing resolution without addressing the defense appropriations bill ... and we should be for the remainder of the year," McCain said.
McConnell said he agreed with McCain and added "with total confidence" that both the House and the Senate will not pass any further stopgap funding bills without a longer-term defense appropriations bill.
"I don't intend myself to support another continuing resolution that does not contain the full-year defense appropriation bill," McConnell said. "I think everybody understands the urgency of that. My friend from Arizona, our leader, on these issues has been very clear and articulate about it, and I can say with total confidence that the House and Senate are not going to be passing another continuing resolution without the funding for the Defense Department for the remainder of this fiscal year."
rest http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/mcconnell_mccain_will_block_further_stopgap_bills_unless_they_include_long_term_defense_funding_/2011/03/16/ABqrvse_blog.html?wprss=rss_politics
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