AP Photo/Justin Sullivan
The Senate passed the $636 billion Defense spending bill Saturday morning by a vote of 88-10. Nine Republicans voted no on the measure including Senator John McCain of Arizona, normally an outspoken supporter of the military.
Those who voted against the legislation cite provisions in the bill that are not Defense related. Some of the temporary measures include a job benefits extension and programs for highway transit and the Patriot Act. Critics charge that the Republicans who voted no don't support the military and are playing dirty politics with soldiers' lives in order to get what they want with respect to healthcare reform. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) fired back at those critics from the Senate floor. "This Congress is irresponsible in our spending," said Sessions. He added that new expenditures in the legislation are not paid for and not included in the budget. Sessions called those provisions "gimmicks" and said, "The people are getting tired of that."
Nevertheless, the bill now goes to the President's desk for signature. The legislation includes a 3.4% pay raise for military personnel, $508 billion for general defense purposes and $128 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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