Fight looming over military spending cuts

[cal04]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/21/fight-looming-over-military-spending-cuts/?hpt=po_bn2

The raging Washington debate over increasing the debt limit already is foreshadowing perhaps the next budget tussle between the administration and Capitol Hill - a looming fight over cutting military spending.

The Pentagon is the middle of studying how it can meet President Barack Obama's orders to cut $400 billion in spending over the next 12 years - a plan that has raised eyebrows with pro-military Democrat and Republican members of Congress, many of them representing districts with defense contractors or military bases.

Pentagon officials say Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, just days into the job of heading the Pentagon, has been quietly talking to members about the long-term outlook for defense spending cuts. The officials declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly.

But as part of any deficit-reduction package to accompany raising the debt ceiling, some in Congress are seeing the defense budget as a target-rich environment.

[notadmblnd]

1. cut the war profiteers loose

[FreakinDJ]

3. $140K per yr Contractor standing next to $30K per yr Troops

Huummmmm Let me think for a minute about that ...........

[n2doc]

2. 33 bil/year in a 600+ bill budget. And they have the nerve to scream.

Probably can get that just by cutting officers perks.

[Cid_B]

5. Holy Crap...! I get perks?

I'm gonna go read my contract again and look for the "perk" clause....

[n2doc]

6. Golf courses, executive jets..

Perhaps above your pay grade?

[Karmadillo]

4. Let;s fight over a $400 billion/year cut. That still leaves us #1 (! USA !)

nt