"Reject this intrusion of federal government mandates," Mr. Armey said, echoing conservative concerns about expanding the size of government.
Against this volatile backdrop, the question of expanding the size and scope of the peacekeeping force has assumed new urgency.
They complained it was an end run around expanding the size of a military they consider woefully thin and depleted.
Dramatically expanding the size of the EFSF, to at least €1 trillion, is one (politically fraught) option.
Mr. Bush characterized Mr. Kerry as intent on expanding the size of the federal government, raising taxes and giving bureaucrats control over the lives of individuals.
Creating new organizational boxes, shifting manpower and expanding the size of the F.B.I. will not make the public safer until this change is made.
Expanding the size of the multinational force would require action by the United Nations Security Council, which gave the mandate for the existing force.
But officials in Berlin say expanding the size of the fund could send a negative signal to financial markets while Greece is involved in a complicated bond swap.
NEW YORK TIMES Bank of Japan Steps Up Monetary Easing | Japan's central bank is expanding the size of its asset-purchase program.
The vote on expanding the size of the fund, known as the European Financial Stability Facility, and its powers is scheduled for Tuesday.
But Ms. Merkel's statement effectively gives the green light to expanding the size of the firewall, as the United States and others have been urging.
