Emanuel, DeLauro Call on Nussle to Honor Commitment to Honest Budget Funding for Wars
Emanuel, DeLauro Call on Nussle to Honor Commitment to Honest Budget Funding for Wars
WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Representatives Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following letter to Chairman of the Committee on Budget Jim Nussle (R-IA) praising his support for the need for realistic and honest approach for long-term funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and calling on him to renew his public commitment.
Following is text of the letter:
February 8, 2006
The Honorable Jim Nussle
Chairman
Committee on the Budget
United States House of Representatives
309 Cannon House Office Building
Washington DC, 20515
Dear Chairman Nussle,
On October 16, 2003, during a hearing on Iraq War funding, you made an admirable public statement regarding the need for realistic and honest long-term funding for the wars. That was your position then, and it remains relevant today. As we all know, the Administration was wrong on both the cost and length of this war. Congress should not be forced to follow their miscalculations and lack of transparency. We urge you to honor your public commitment.
At the hearing you said:
"Can we continue to fund our war efforts on this type of ad hoc basis? I believe most of us would agree that we cannot and should not. This committee and this Congress must have a solid plan, a blueprint, a financial blueprint to set our priorities for the year and for the long term. To do this we must be able to gather whatever information is necessary and put together a credible and responsible budget for the Nation. In order to do that, we need to have the best possible information as to the likely future costs of the Department of Defense, one of the largest and growing components of our budget .Further, as we begin the process to look forward into the 2005 fiscal year budget, I want to discuss how the administration will begin to incorporate the known costs in next year's budget submission."
While the President's budget proposal provides some funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the White House has indicated that they intend to seek at least an additional $70 billion in what would be the seventh "emergency" supplemental. Three years ago, funding the war through an emergency supplemental may have been necessary, but now the cost is structural and should be treated as such if Congress intends to be honest with the American people. Congress has always -- and will always -- provide whatever is necessary for our troops to succeed, but we as Members of Congress must have an honest and complete vision of the costs of the war.
As Chairman of the Budget Committee, you are in a strong position to insist on truth in budgeting. We hope you will stick to the principles you so clearly articulated in that budget hearing of October 2003. We appreciate your commitment to fair and open government, and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Rahm Emanuel
Rosa L. DeLauro
http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2006/February/nussle_letter_2_8_06.html