Jun 16, 2007

President Would Veto House Version of FY 2008 DOE Funding Bill

The AIP Bulletin of Science Policy News
FYI Number 62: June 14, 2007 (Excerpts)


The language in yesterday's Statement of Administration Policy issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding H.R. 2641, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill could not be clearer: "if H.R. 2641 were presented to the President, he would veto the bill."

Congress and the Bush Administration are headed toward a fiscal train wreck because of a fundamental disagreement about the level of discretionary spending in the upcoming fiscal year. While there was a fair amount of grumbling and some creative bookkeeping in previous years, the Republican leadership was able to keep total spending within the parameter set by President Bush. As fully expected, the new House and Senate Democratic leaders disagree with the Administration about the level of FY 2008 discretionary spending. (This spending is in contrast to mandatory spending for entitlement programs and interest on the national debt.)
[...]
"NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (NNSA): The Administration appreciates the Committee’s support for the important work of NNSA. Of particular note is the Committee’s support for the vital work of the Administration’s priority non-proliferation programs.

"The Administration notes the Committee’s continued interest in the effort to eliminate 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium through the creation of mixed oxide fuel. However, the reduction of $284 million would result in the termination of construction and procurement activities for the MOX facility and in lay-offs of approximately 500 contractor employees. In addition, the Administration disagrees with the Committee’s decision to change the structure of the fissile materials disposition program, which involves interdependent facilities that should be managed in one program.

"The Administration understands the need to work with the Committee on a plan for transforming the nuclear weapons stockpile and complex that is aimed at assuring bipartisan support. However, the Administration strongly opposes the Committee’s decision to eliminate funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW). Congress has consistently supported this vital effort to modernize the nuclear weapons stockpile. Failure to continue the program will contribute to increasing concern about weapon performance/reliability and may in turn require the maintenance of a larger size stockpile than was contemplated with RRWs.

"The Administration strongly opposes the reduction for Weapons Activities of approximately $600 million from the President’s request. At the lower funding level, activities and programs critical to transform the nuclear weapons complex and allow it to become more cost-effective and responsive to rapidly changing requirements will be severely curtailed."

The House may consider H.R. 2641 as early as today or tomorrow. While passage is expected in the House, the final bill's parameters will not be settled until a way can be found to bridge the $22 billion gap between the White House and the Democratic congressional leadership on total spending for FY 2008.

Richard M. Jones
Media and Government Relations Division
American Institute of Physics
fyi@aip.org
301-209-3095

11 comments:

  1. This all makes it very likely we'll see another Continuing Resolution (CR) for next year's budget. That will make for a worse case scenario, as LANL will then be forced to abide by the drastically reduced House spending levels. I see a train wreck a'coming!

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  2. Yes, indeed, here comes the likely CR trigger. The Perfect Storm is a'brewing for LANL and we'll likely start out the year with a massive cut in funding based on the House Funding Bill constraints...

    ---

    Bush Warns He'll Veto Spending Bills - AP News

    CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - President Bush warned Congress on Saturday that he will use his veto power to stop runaway government spending.

    House GOP conservatives have pledged to come up with the votes needed to uphold any Bush vetoes.

    "I am not alone in my opposition," Bush said, stressing that 147 Republicans in the House have pledged to stand with him. "These 147 members are more than the one-third needed to sustain my veto of any bills that spend too much."

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  3. Ewweee!...I do get all goose pimply when old Bechtel croney GW comes up to bat for to our nuclear club of military industrialists and their groupies (I being one). Thank you LANS, for having so many low friends in high places.

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  4. Guess what sector of the stock market has consistently achieved the highest returns in the market since the early 1950s? It's the same industrial group that President Eisenhower warned us about. You got it...the military-industrial complex. Now guess who stands to gain the most by funding contrived wars, stoking the flames of cold war rhetoric and funding a never ending cycle of new and improved weapons research and development? You got it again...the military industrial complex. Now guess what group of special interests is most responsible for perpetuating the green house effect that is largley responsible for global warming. Yep, the M-I group. And now guess who's in charge. of. Washington DC these days, and at Los Alamos.

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  5. So this means likely that MarTEEN Aguilera will be promoted to the title of LANS Trash Czar thus enhancing sitewide cost savings?

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  6. 6/16/07 9:08 PM - yes, even Fred Crawford has no power. Martin holds the budget purse-strings. Nice job if you can get it. People in facilities are leaving by the droves because Martin won't allow anything to get done that costs money. As a result, nothing gets done in MCFOD all because of Martin. Question: how is it that Martin keeps his job but Vann Bynum loses his?

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  7. "Question: how is it that Martin keeps his job but Vann Bynum loses his?"

    In case you haven't figured it out, Aguilera is absolutely untouchable.

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  8. Hey the "Train Wreck" is still on schedule....watch for the headlights starting abou the first of Aug. It's a gonna be bad...You / We have been warned, time and again so, no crying when you get your pink slip...The writing has been on the wall for the last few years.
    Plus with the latest Fisco, this ought to be worse than we have anticipated...Thanks Mikey...

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  9. Hey, FISCO (or, perhaps Bohica?)... Stay.... off.... the.... booze.... and... use... a.... spell... checker!!!

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  10. LOL. Forgot about BOHICA. He's at LLNL, no? Probably getting ready for a good 9".

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