On Nov. 3, voters will decide who controls Congress while the war with Iran is still underway. What they will not decide is how that war gets paid for. Congress has scheduled that question for after they cast their ballots. My previous op-ed for the Washington Examiner asked who has the power to declare war. This one asks a quieter question: who has agreed to pay for it?

The answer describes a failure with no single villain, which is why it deserves a careful look.

Stay informed.Stay ahead.

Join Washington Examiner for unlimited access to the news, analysis, and commentary that matter most.

Already a member? Log in

What Congress did and did not do

The White House asked Congress on June 24 for $87.6 billion in supplemental funding.

In July, the House adopted a $95 billion budget resolution by a vote of 216-214, a party-line vehicle that would allow up to roughly $73 billion for the war. The House also passed the $1.1 trillion defense authorization bill, 216-212.

Neither has become law. Senate Democrats blocked the authorization bill, and Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has said the Senate lacks the votes for the $95 billion resolution as written, while floating the idea of repurposing it.

Then came the........

© Washington Examiner