THE SENATE UNDER THE NEW RULES OF SENATOR HARRY REID (D-NV) FUMBLES THE VOTE ON THE 2014 DEFENSE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE MOVED THE BILL INTO RECONCILIATION WITH THE HOUSE BILL–THE DEMOCRATS IN POWER CONTINUE TO SHOW LESSER AND LESSER IMPORTANCE TO OUR PATRIOTIC TROOPS SERVING WORLDWIDE

The U.S. Senate voted to delay defense legislation that sets policy goals and spending targets for the year, just hours after approving a historic change to filibuster rules in what critics called “the nuclear option.”

The chamber on Thursday voted 51–44 against moving forward with the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act. Sixty votes were needed to end debate and send the bill to a conference committee to reconcile legislative differences between House and Senate. Lawmakers then left for an 11-day Thanksgiving Day recess.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, vowed to press for passage of the bill before the end of the year, despite Republican outrage over Democrats’ decision to partially amend the centuries-old rules for filibuster so judicial appointments can be approved with a simple majority.

“Given the importance of this bill to our troops, their families, and our national security, I’m nowhere close to giving up on completing the defense authorization bill, even though we will only have days, not weeks, to complete it,” Levin said in an e-mailed statement.

Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the top Republican on the Senate panel, Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the House panel, “are equally determined” to see passage of the defense bill, Levin said…..

…..The Defense Department requested $527 billion for its base budget in fiscal 2014 and $79 billion for overseas contingency operations, including the war in Afghanistan.

The House in mid-June passed a defense authorization bill that included the base budget request and $86 billion for war funding. The Senate committee approved a version of the legislation that included the same amount for the base budget and a war budget of $81 billion.

AS THE MILITARY BUDGET GETS THE BIGGEST AXED FROM THE DEMOCRATS IN POWER $1 TRIILLION IN REDUCTION THROUGH 2021.

The Defense Department faces $500 billion in automatic cuts through fiscal 2021. That’s in addition to almost $500 billion in defense reductions already included in 2011 deficit-reduction legislation. The first installment of the across-the-board cuts totaled $37 billion and began March 1 after lawmakers were unable to reach an alternative agreement on taxes and spending. The next round totals $52 billion and is set to take effect Jan. 1.

http://www.dodbuzz.com/2013/11/21/senate-delays-vote-on-defense-bill/

VIEW THE ROLL CALL:

Vote Number:
245
Vote Date:
November 21, 2013, 04:03 PM

Required For Majority:
3/5
Vote Result:
Cloture Motion Rejected

Measure Number:
S. 1197 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 )

Measure Title:
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2014 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00245