At the State Summit on Innovative Transportation Funding and Financing, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters says that the need for federal government authorization for transportation initiatives on the state level is “ridiculous.” She says that she will propose a new program to remove federal restrictions regarding transportation. She adds that federal programs should focus on “things that are truly in the federal interest.”(1:04)

 

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Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson testified before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee today regarding oversight of HUD program and its fiscal year 2009 budget. Jackson’s comments about the HUD program were met with both criticism and support from Senators of both parties.

Jackson’s program was particularly called into question by democrats skeptical that the funding requested by the Bush Administration for HUD was insufficient in helping to slow the increasingly high rate of housing foreclosures dooming homeowners across the nation.

Chaired by Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Senators Casey (D-PA) and Menendez (D-NJ) engaged in often heated discussion with Jackson over not only their frustration with his lack of success as Secretary, but also over allegations that members of his staff had acted in a controversial manner. Jackson, citing the fact that the case was still not being made public, refused to discuss the case in front of Congress. The verbal jabs of Casey and Menendez were met with support for Jackson and his efforts by other Senators, particularly Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO).

The Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the 2009 defense budget and war costs. Witnesses were Assistant Secretary of Defense Gordon England, Defense Controller Tina Jonas, and General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

Ranking member Judd Gregg (R-NH) was not present. After chairman Kent Conrad’s opening statement, Wayne Allard (R-CO) made a statement for the Republicans. Both senators mentioned the $70 billion in supplemental war funding as obviously incomplete and vaguely justified.

In his opening statement Conrad made a reference to an interview in the early days of the war where former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld where the former Defense secretary  said that the war was estimated at $50 billion.
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Senate Budget Committee Chairman, Kent Conrad, says he is disappointed with the estimate of $70 billion for supplemental war funding for 2009. (0:47)

 

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Assistant Secretary of Defense Gordon England explains why the Department of Defense has only requested a partial amount of the supplemental war funding for the fiscal year 2009. (0:54)

 

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Senate Budget Committee chairman Kent Conrad speaks about early administration estimates of the cost of the war in Iraq during a hearing on the Department of Defense Budget hearing. (1:07)

 

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Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell held a press briefing. His opening statement concerned the defense authorization act which allows for an increase in pay raises for military personnel of 3.5 percent. He said that the Defense Department reiterates the president’s request that Congress fully fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also commented on some new proposals that come out of the State of the Union address, particularly a preferential hiring option for military spouses across the government. Right now only the Department of Defense has preferential hiring for military spouses.

He announced a two day conference with the eight combatant commanders from Iraq, senior civilian leaders, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice was expected to speak to the conference group, which is also expected to meet with President Bush. Morrell answered a question about the president’s figure of 20,000 troops to be withdrawn from Iraq, admitting that this is not the full surge force when support troops are considered. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that the rate of troop withdrawal will be conditions-based.

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Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell held a briefing with the press and began with an announcement about MRAPs or mine resistant, ambush protected vehicles, which have been ordered in almost non-stop production by the Secretary of Defense as the primary combat vehicle in Iraq.

Morrell reinforced the belief of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that MRAPs are the safest, most live-saving vehicle choice in Iraq. This statement was made in response to a New York Times headline that suggested that MRAPs were being questioned by the Defense Department, after the first fatality in an MRAP caused by an IED (improvised explosive device) attack since the MRAP production program began. Morrell said that the Secretary of Defense has never been more convinced of the life saving quality of MRAPS than after the attack that took place over the weekend.

He also said that in retrospect the Pentagon is pleased on its decisions on a particular type of MRAP that will most likely be transferred to Afghanistan. One of the most lightweight designs ordered into ramped-up production, it turns out, is ideally suited for conditions on the ground in Afghanistan.

On the subject of Afghanistan Morrell said that the Secretary has commissioned a document that will take a look at the goals in Afghanistan for the next three to five years. It is a strategic document reflecting an overall vision for Afghanistan and is being constructed in cooperation with NATO allies. Morrell said that other U.S. government entities, such as the Department of State, will have a chance to collaborate as well.

ON the 2009 budget, Morrell said that there is a possibility that the 2009 war funding request for the military might be submitted to the Hill before the 2008 funding is passed. This does not seam likely to happen, but it is a possibility. Morell emphasized that the war is currently operating on a bridge fund passed by Congress before the intersession, but without continued movement on Capitol Hill in terms of war funding the DoD, would be forced to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the budget for military bases.