— THE OCO CUSHION: “The additional funding for the war in Afghanistan in the new omnibus spending package could be a sticking point as the measure moves through the House and Senate,” reports POLITICO’s Austin Wright. http://politico.pro/1hnUGOU
The bill provides $85.2 billion, even though the Pentagon only asked for $79.4 billion in May.“The increase could rankle Democrats and libertarian Republicans who’d like to see funding for the war in Afghanistan decline faster as U.S. troops are withdrawn by the end of the year,” Wright reports.
A coalition of government watchdog and anti-war groups decried the increase yesterday.
“There is no excuse for a $5 billion increase to OCO, especially in a time of belt tightening throughout the federal government,” said David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.