All you military contractors and civilian personnel out there can breathe a little easier now since you now won’t be getting a pink slip for Christmas:

The Democratic-led Congress authorized more Iraq war spending on Friday, sending President George W. Bush a defense bill requiring no change in strategy after failing again to impose a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawals.

The defense policy bill, approved 90-3 by the U.S. Senate, also expanded the size of the U.S. Army and set conditions on the Bush administration’s plan to build a missile defense system in Europe.

The measure already had passed the House of Representatives and now goes to Bush, who is expected to sign it into law. It authorizes Pentagon programs expected to cost $506.9 billion during fiscal 2008, which began in October.  [Reuters]

I’m not surprised this bill finally passed because if the Democrats did not pass the bill and put all these civilains personnel working for the military in the unemployment line before Christmas, they would stand no chance of winning the election next year.  The bill passed in the Senate with a vote of 90-3.  Take a look at who did not vote.  Is anyone surprised?