Just weeks after Congress settled its long-running fight over military assistance to Ukraine, lawmakers have engaged in a new battle over the level of Pentagon spending for next year.
Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and minority leader, is pressing along with other Republicans for a significant increase in money for the military and to break the longstanding Democratic rule that domestic funding must rise equally with Pentagon spending.
“This is the most dangerous time in the world since the Berlin Wall came down, and the military spending needs to reflect the needs of our country, which clearly argues against having an arbitrary line that doesn’t spend more on defense than domestic,” Mr. McConnell said.
“So I certainly do disagree with that, and we’re going to have a vigorous discussion about it.”Democrats have demanded parity between domestic and military funding in recent years.
They argue that social programs are as deserving as defense and should not get shortchanged — or absorb deeper cuts to accommodate more Pentagon spending.
Persons:
Mitch McConnell, Mr, McConnell
Organizations:
Kentucky Republican, Democratic, Pentagon
Locations:
Ukraine