Senate appropriators pitch $165 billion supplemental

Senate appropriators on Thursday are planning to mark up a $165.4 billion supplemental spending bill that would cover war costs for the rest of this year and into 2009.

While the Senate figure is $18.2 billion less than the total sum the House is planning to approve, it is still much more than the $108 billion the White House said it is willing to accept without a veto.

{mosads}The Senate will likely include domestic spending, but a summary of the mark up circulated Wednesday did not include such items. The White House is strongly opposed to adding such spending onto the measure.

The Senate’s plan comes close to the $100 billion that the Bush administration requested for the remainder of fiscal 2008. Senate appropriators are planning to include $99.5 billion for 2008 and $65.9 billion for a portion of 2009, starting on Oct. 1, 2008.

While the Senate’s initial version of the supplemental for 2008 and 2009 provides $46.4 billion in high profile weapons systems procurement, such as $3.6 billion for 15 additional Boeing-made C-17 aircraft, it also includes several legislative procedures seeking more control of contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan and requesting reports on military and political stability in Iraq as well as the readiness levels of the Iraqi and Afghani military.

Among the provisions is also a requirement for a report on how the Unites States plans to combat al Qaeda and its affiliates. In addition, appropriators are reaffirming their opposition to torture of military detainees, a provision that could attract opposition from the White House.

Senators are also directing the Secretary of Defense to develop the necessary processes for an equal cost sharing between the U.S. and Iraq for all projects worth more than $750 million.