Senate GOP conservatives have formally expressed their willingness to pass the FY07 Military Quality of Life spending bill by the end of this week.

In a Monday letter to Senate Majority Leader Frist, Sens. Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Tom Coburn and James Inhofe of Oklahoma wrote that "we share your commitment to addressing the needs of our veterans, service members, and their families, while protecting the interests of hard-working American taxpayers."

But it could be an exercise in futility, as appropriators have made it clear there is little to no time to conference and pass the bill by the end of this week. The senators wrote that they would allow action to proceed on the military and veterans' benefits bill only if it meets certain conditions, such as the budget caps set earlier this year and that all earmarks must either previously authorized or in the president's budget request.

The senators wrote that with regard to FY07 appropriations, other than the military and veterans' benefits bill, they would only allow "a clean continuing resolution for the remaining unfunded appropriation bills to ensure the uninterrupted operations of the federal government." At presstime Frist had not yet responded.