Budget Deal Would Give Pentagon Extra Funds In Exchange For Social Program Cuts

[abelenkpe]

Budget Deal Would Give Pentagon Extra Funds In Exchange For Social Program Cuts

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/04/defense-spending-budget-as-pa_n_844692.html

WASHINGTON -- While media attention focuses on the cuts to government spending demanded by House Republicans and broadly accepted by Democrats, the Pentagon is poised to reap billions more in federal funds, according to sources close to the discussions. The confines of the budget negotiations established by the two parties dictate that every extra dollar going to military spending must be offset by a dollar reduction in spending on domestic social programs.

Last week, Senate Democrats came to the table with $10 billion in proposed cuts to the military budget but, a House GOP aide said, the offer was immediately rejected. Democratic sources confirmed that the party had proposed defense spending reductions but disputed the amount.

Democrats and Republicans are now moving toward an agreement that would increase defense spending. But Democratic sources close to the talks said the Democrats' spending recommendation remains roughly $2 billion shy of that of their Republican counterparts. A spokesman for the Senate spending panel declined to comment, citing ongoing talks. A spokesman for Senate Democratic leadership did not respond to requests for comment.

(more at link)

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sigh.

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. In what sense is that "a deal"? n/t

[iwishiwas]

5. The Pentagon gets the deal!!

[indepat]

2. Morbidly craven or would cravenly morbid be more descriptive?

:patriot:

[RC]

3. The Defense budget is already the biggest in the, world times 2

Or it 3 or 4?

Whatever, it needs to be sliced and diced to no more than one quarter the GNP.

[abelenkpe]

4. according to wikipedia

And these are 2009 numbers

US: 663,255,000,000
China: 98,800,000,000


What gets me is that defense cuts were offered by dems and immediately rejected by republicans.