House OKs Budget Plan With Defense Hike

WASHINGTON — The US House approved a $3.8 trillion budget blueprint that includes $20 billion extra in war funds sought by defense hawks.

Asked if the vote is a major victory for House defense hawks, Armed Services Committee member Rep. Duncan Hunter replied: “No.”

“I think it’s as things should be,” Hunter told reporters during the budget vote series Wednesday. “It’s still not the best way to do so” because the additional military budgetary authority is in the war account and not the base budget.

Hunter said the budget blueprint and its construct should be viewed “in the context of one year.” He added: “Next year we’ll look at it in the context of next year.”

In a statement, the White House criticized House Republicans for voting “in favor of locking in draconian sequestration cuts.”

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