138th Year... and still on the job!	Tuesday May 23, 2006

Salazar opposes depot cut Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said he would oppose House legislation that would cut the money requested by President Bush for destroying the mustard agent weapons stored at the Pueblo Chemical Depot.

A House appropriations subcommittee last week cut the White House budget request from $131 million to $91 million. The money is intended to continue the process of building a weapons destruction program at both the Pueblo depot and the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky.

"The House bill as passed could cut Pueblo Chemical's funding in half and could delay construction for a year," Salazar said in a statement Monday. "The president, the Defense Department and experts in the field all agree this funding is necessary."

The Senate has not taken up its version of the legislation and Salazar said he would work to restore the original funding level.

- Peter Roper