McConnell, Shelby Urge Defense Spending Topline Boost As Priority For Budget Deal
By Matthew Beinart |
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the top GOP member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, each said any progress on reaching a full FY ’22 spending deal will stall out if the Pentagon does not receive a boost to the requested budget topline of $715 billion.
“Here’s what it will take to get a Senate appropriations process back on track. Two simple things. Number one, Democrats will need to honor the long-standing bipartisan truce that provides parity for defense and non-defense spending growth…and at a responsible overall [topline] number that we can all accept,” McConnell said during floor remarks on Wednesday. “And number two, we must have agreement that we’re going to keep long-standing bipartisan policy riders in and new poison pill riders out.”
McConnell added that he doesn’t see the Senate moving forward on a defense budget that “cuts our national defense after inflation and allows adversaries to get an edge.”
https://www.defensedaily.com/mcconnell-shelby-urge-defense-spending-topline-boost-as-priority-for-budget-deal/congress/
