Linkage Between Nuclear Modernization and New START Inappropriate

Owen Graham / December 21, 2010

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations has recently published a summary of the continuing resolution (CR) that would allow continued government operations through March 4, 2011. The vote on the document is expected on December 21, as the current CR is set to expire the very same day. Senators should not fall for the promise of modernization money proposed in the CR in exchange for their vote on New START, a strategic offensive arms reductions treaty with the Russian Federation.

The CR adjusts the current rate of operations for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) weapons program to $7 billion, a $624 million increase over the fiscal year 2010 appropriation, in conjunction with New START. This is a quid pro quo to make sure that Republicans in the Senate are pressured, by millions in nuclear modernization monies, to vote for the ratification of New START. (more…)