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White House smothers bill limiting payment
[Dawn] The White House has rejected a House bill which places limitation on reimbursements to the government of Pakistain and imposes new restrictions on US assistance to that country.The bill requires the secretaries of defence and state to certify to the US Congress that Pakistain is cooperating with the United States in the war against terror, dismantling IED networks and preventing nuclear proliferation. The White House rejects both, restrictions placed on reimbursing the money Pakistain spends in combating gunnies along the Pak-Afghan border as well as certification requirements. A statement issued by Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, says that the US administration "strongly objects to the restriction in reimbursement for Pakistain from Coalition Support Funds and the associated certification requirements in section 1211" of a bill a congressional panel passed last week. "Taken together, the reimbursement restriction and the certification restrictions -- some of which require the Secretary of Defence to certify Pak cooperation on issues outside of his purview -- are proposed at a particularly sensitive time," the White House observes. Posted by: Fred 2012-05-18 |
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