The 82 Billion Dollar Question | WBUR and NPR

TODAY IS SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2010

The following is a "closing segment" for the show which aired Monday, February 14, 2005 at 10:00 AM EST.

Monday, February 14, 2005 at 10:00 AM EST

The 82 Billion Dollar Question

It was just last Monday that President Bush submitted his $2.5 trillion dollar budget for 2006. Today, he formally asked Congress for more money for a so-called “supplemental budget.”

The additional 82-billion-dollars would be used overwhelmingly to cover the costs of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the construction of a new U.S. embassy in Baghdad, aid for tsunami victims, and more. The Defense Department would get $75 billion of it and use $5 billion to restructure Army divisions and brigades.

Hear Harry Zeeve, one of the country’s top budget-watchers, do the math and interpret what Bush’s new request means.

Guests:

Harry Zeeve, National Field Director for The Concord Coalition.

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