Inhofe Says Democrats Stall Military Funding Bill

Senator Jim Inhofe today expressed indignation at Democratic efforts to put vital military funding at risk by including Fiscal Year 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations (MilCon-VA) in a “minibus” funding bill with the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor-H) Appropriations bill conference reports.

President Bush had previously expressed he would sign the MilCon-VA appropriations bill, but veto the Labor-H appropriations bill. The Senate today voted on a procedural motion to separate the two bills, removing the MilCon-VA bill from the Labor-H bill.

“I am very disappointed in the politicization by Congressional Democrats of vital funding for our troops, veterans, and military construction," Inhofe said. "Democrats have stalled the critically important MilCon-VA bill for two months, refusing to bring the appropriations bill back to the floor and on its way to the President’s signature until it was unnecessarily attached to a domestic spending bill that will be vetoed.

“Our troops and veterans deserve better than these petty political games. This bill includes critical funding for troops and military bases across the country that should not be delayed, especially during wartime. I am proud of my Senate colleagues who voted today to separate these two bills as they were intended, removing the risk that funding in the MilCon-VA bill will be vetoed.”

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