Federal Deficit Revised Upwards To The Tune of 25 Billion Dollars

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Another twenty five billion for Halliburton!

By ALAN FRAM

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration will ask Congress for an additional $25 billion for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, a House Republican aide said Wednesday, a change from the White House's earlier plans to not request such money until after the November elections.

White House budget chief Joshua Bolten planned to visit the Capitol on Wednesday to discuss the proposal with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and other top Republicans, said the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The request comes amid an intensified Iraqi insurrection that has inflicted steady casualties on Americans and forced the Pentagon to plan on keeping more troops in the country next year than the administration had previously planned.

The $25 billion request is for the federal budget year that begins next Oct. 1. In recent weeks, administration officials have raised the possibility that they also will need extra money for the final weeks of this fiscal year as well, with many members of Congress saying they believe billions will be needed.

Last February, President Bush's budget omitted any funds for U.S. military and reconstruction activities in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bolten said at the time that the administration's 2005 request for Iraq could be up to $50 billion.

It seemed likely that the $25 billion proposal to be discussed on Wednesday would be only the first portion of funds that will be needed for next year.

 

[addiv]

Bush will need to start raising taxes sooner or later...

 

[The Yankee]

No, that's best left to whomever comes after Bush...at least for the Republican thinking.

Anyway, $25 billion isn't going to make much of a difference spread out the way it is. Sorry, but the funding has been a little half-assed, especially in Afghanistan...but also in Iraq, which is also having some equipment shortages (who would have thought that they would need body armor?).

And, it's nice and sneaky how it never shows up on the budgets Congress passes every year. That has usually been the case...just come and ask for funds after the budgets are all done with. I don't think last fall's $87 billion package ever appeared on that year's budget.

 

[Goober]

A mere 25 Billion U$D?

Bah, that's nothing. I don't think that will be the end of it, that is just the beginning. Iraq will require a lot more money to maintain troops, etc.

And this guy actually lowered taxes? Hah, he will have to raise them, if he gets elected next, which he hopefully does not.

 

[The Yankee]

Yes...usually taxes aren't lowered in wartime footing...but....hey...if Bush wins, then you could put off any necessary tax increases (whatever they may be) until after his administration is gone.

 

[RoddyVR]

considering how willing the us government in general is to borrow money from itself (ie increase the national debt), and how small a percentage of the curent debt the yearly defecit is, i think they could lower taxes and take on the whole world no problem.

who cares if the economy collapses 12 years down the line. none (or not many) of the currently elected officials will be around then anyway. and they'll all be rich(er) by then so they wont care.

 

[Quiet Sound]

Let's see, $25 billion being spent at $4 billion a month (last I heard)...

Wouldn't it be nice if all that money were being spent inside the US?

 

[Archer 007]

I love how he entitled this thread. I hope the Dems vote against this dumb waste of money.

 

[cgannon64]

Lets just print the $25 billion!

Hey, that would even help the logging industry!

 

[HighlandWarrior]

will this give us the high score?

 

[EzInKy]

As the old saying goes...in for a dime, in for a dollar.

 

[Ebitdadada]

Cut taxes and increase spending! What an economic plan! This man has to go. He's done enough damage in 3 years so far. I shuder at the damage he could do with 4 more years not having to worry about getting re-elected. Life's not going to be good for the next president. He/she will have to spend their first 4 years fixing what Bush broke. I still can't beleive that the budget deficit is larger than the millitary buget. Does anyone remember Clinton's posters in presentations that said, "America, Debt free by 2012." Those were neat! If we were debt free and didn't have to pay intrest on the debt anymore we could even aford a couple years of a Bush presidency! (not his dad, him, his dad was a damn good president).

 

[EzInKy]

Originally posted by Ebitdadada
Cut taxes and increase spending! What an economic plan! This man has to go. He's done enough damage in 3 years so far. I shuder at the damage he could do with 4 more years not having to worry about getting re-elected. Life's not going to be good for the next president. He/she will have to spend their first 4 years fixing what Bush broke. I still can't beleive that the budget deficit is larger than the millitary buget. Does anyone remember Clinton's posters in presentations that said, "America, Debt free by 2012." Those were neat! If we were debt free and didn't have to pay intrest on the debt anymore we could even aford a couple years of a Bush presidency! (not his dad, him, his dad was a damn good president).

Maybe people will think twice about switching parties just because someone didn't want the whole world to know he was getting a little nookie on the side.

 

[allhailIndia]

Drip...drip... it looks like American lives aren't the only thing being which don't have any value with the Bush administration

 

[stormbind]

Originally posted by Quiet Sound
Wouldn't it be nice if all that money were being spent inside the US?

What money? This is debt isn't it?