The Senate defied its majority leader and the threat of a Presidential veto in passing a highly padded version of the 2006 emergency supplemental for the war on terror and hurricane recovery. The more than $14 billion bump up to the Administration request also flies in the face of the House version, which held close to the Administration’s figure of about $92 billion. House leaders say they will not agree to the beefy Senate bill, which includes add-ons ranging from farm subsidies to money for additional C-17s. Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) managed to add approximately $227 million to go toward additional C-17 airlifters.
The Air Force wants more companies able to produce its new, multi-use, anti-radar missile that one expert says will prove vital in any future peer conflict and would be in high demand for the war in Iran if stocks were available now.