(KIWA Staff Photo)
Washington, D.C. (RI) — Another deadline to avoid a federal government shutdown looms in September, and there’s already bitter division between the two parties over defense spending.
President Trump is requesting $1.5 trillion for the military, a figure Democrats say is far too high. However, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa says the war in Iran has turned the tables, and the Pentagon needs more backing.
Grassley says there’s an immediate concern about America’s stockpile of weapons, especially missiles and ammunition.
Grassley says if there’s a supplemental defense spending bill, he would try to add an amendment authorizing nationwide, year-round sales of E15 fuel.
The U.S. House passed a bill last month that would eliminate an EPA rule blocking summer sales of E15 due to smog concerns. The bill is currently stalled in the Senate.
