by Travis Sharp FY 2010 Pentagon Defense Spending Request Resources Executive Summary February 26, 2009 On February 26, President Barack Obama released a preliminary outline of its spending priorities and agency budgets (known as “toplines”) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, which begins on October 1. In a typical year, the President would submit a detailed […]
Putting the Financial Rescue Package in Perspective
by Travis Sharp The $700 billion financial bailout package has drawn the ire of citizens throughout the United States. Both conservatives and liberals have voiced concern that the package bails out Wall Street titans, who caused the financial crisis in the first place, by placing an enormous burden on middle- and working-class taxpayers. At a […]
Analysis of FY2009 Defense Appropriations in the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act (CR) for FY2009
by Travis Sharp SUMMARY With members of Congress eager to leave town for the campaign trail, and Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 starting on October 1, Congress slapped together a consolidated appropriations package that includes several appropriations bills and a continuing resolution (known as a ‘CR’) all rolled into one. A CR is designed to fund […]
Analysis of House-Senate Agreement on the FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill (S.3001)
by Travis Sharp and John Isaacs SUMMARY Facing both a full workload before leaving town for the campaign trail and ongoing member objections to earmarks, Congress decided to skip the normal conference procedure for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Defense Authorization bill (S.3001). Working together, the House and Senate produced a joint bill that now must […]
Amidst Major Buildup, Iraq Now Seeks 36 F-16 Fighter Jets
by Travis Sharp In early September, several news outlets reported that Iraq is interested in buying 36 F-16 fighter jets from the United States. This proposed sale is the latest development in an intense push by the United States and Iraq to transform the Iraqi military into a legitimate fighting force. Recent weapons acquisition proposals […]
