Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6-2-04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS / IRAQ FUNDING (L-O)

NUMBER=2-316402

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A key U-S lawmaker is taking steps to tighten congressional oversight of money requested by President Bush for Iraq and Afghanistan. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: The U-S Senate is considering Mr. Bush's request for 25-billion dollars for U-S military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the next budget year beginning October first.

The House approved the money when it passed an overall defense authorization bill last month.

But in the Senate, many lawmakers oppose the administration's request for flexibility in the way the money is used.

Acting Defense Comptroller Lawrence Lanzillotta told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee Wednesday that such flexibility is essential to allow the military to respond to unexpected changes.

/// LANZILLOTTA ACTUALITY ///

What we would like to have is the general transfer authority necessary that if the situation would change on the ground, we would have sufficient flexibility with notification to Congress to make those changes.

/// END ACT ///

But lawmakers argue that granting the administration that much flexibility is tantamount to handing it a blank check.

Senator Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican, is Appropriations Committee chairman:

/// STEVENS ACTUALITY ///

Just notify us, we want 25-billion dollars, and we are going to put it wherever you want. That is a blank check, theory. That is something that we run into on the (Senate) floor, and I do not like to run into it.

/// END ACT ///

According to the wording of President Bush's proposal, the administration "may" spend 20-billion dollars of the package for operations and maintenance, mostly for the Army, with the remaining five-billion dollars going toward any defense or classified program.

Senator Stevens is proposing that the administration have discretion only over the five-billion dollars, with the other 20-billion dollars going exactly to the programs specified in the request.

If passed by the Senate, the House would also have to approve the change in the language. (Signed)

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