Boehner Takes Stand Against Supercommittee Defense Cuts
- Posted on October 27, 2011 at 10:33pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Top congressional Republicans, Democrats and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta are united in a single message to the special bipartisan committee looking for ways to cut the deficit: Leave military spending alone.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters Thursday that the Pentagon budget was cut more than enough in the debt accord this past summer by President Barack Obama and Republicans.
That deal calls for cuts of $350 billion in projected spending over 10 years. The Pentagon is planning on reductions of about $450 billion.
“I would argue that they’ve taken more than their fair share of the hits,” Boehner said.
His comments echo the argument made by others lawmakers as well as Panetta, who in recent speeches and congressional testimony insisted that the Pentagon be spared further cuts.
Rising deficits and deep debt have forced the federal government to slash spending, even at the Pentagon.
The Department of Defense’s budget has nearly doubled to $700 billion in the 10 years since the Sept. 11 attacks. Those numbers do not include the trillion-plus spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The 12-member supercommittee has a mandate to come up with at least $1.2 trillion in overall spending cuts over 10 years. If it fails to do so by Nov. 23 or if Congress rejects its plan, then automatic, across-the-board cuts of $1.2 trillion kick in, with half coming from defense.
Panetta has called that the “doomsday mechanism” and lawmakers have warned of the dire consequences of such reductions that would mean about $1 trillion over 10 years.
In a speech Thursday, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said simply insisting on no more cuts is insufficient. He said lawmakers not only need to offer alternatives to the supercommittee, including raising revenue, but also be open to other options.
Otherwise, “defense is going to be crucified,” he said.
Speaking to the American Enterprise Institute, Smith said, “If we don’t step up and confront the problem with either revenue or spending outside the defense budget, give the supercommittee somewhere to go, give people who want to control the deficit, including our bond raters, somewhere to go, inevitably defense is going to be crushed.”
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Comments (80)
wbalzley
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 12:55am$450 Billion in cuts spread over a ten year period = $45 Billion a year.
$700 Billion annual budget – $45 billion = $655 Billion for defense
$45 Billion / $700 Billion = 6.4% reduction in annual spending.
When you look at the numbers this way, it seems a lot more reasonable. However, I like military spending because it employs millions of soldiers and defense contractors. It also funds DARPA from which we now have Cellphones, GPS, and the Internet. The military also pushes for advances in energy and medicine…
Face it, our economy would be sunk if it were not for the military-industrial complex.
Report Post »SUMMARINE03
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 1:16amYes, but the exorbitant cost is due to these defense contractors… I was offered a job to leave the military and manage an Internet cafe in Iraq for 6 mo of the year for $80K. Also gear, weapons, and simple everyday supplies bought from GSA cost us way more than the commercial of the shelf things.
Report Post »WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges02
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 2:03amTHE PROGRESSIVES (communists) …
… have made Congress irrelevant.
(Keep your powder dry, patriots.)
Report Post »R and K
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 5:56amVery good post! You are thinking beyond the headline, and that’s so important. Especially in today’s world of liars and manipulators.
Report Post »People just have to start thinking about things like $750,000 missiles, and $20,000,000 jets. What is the driver behind those extreme costs? I submit it’s just another gravy train for defense contractors courtesy of the tax payers. Just as the Pentagon spends $30 or $40 for a 79 cent cotter pin, so goes the bigger items.
Taxpayers are being had in every corner of this government, including the Defense Department. To think that our military people get such modest compensation, while the ‘connected’ make the huge money is so backwards it’s infuriating.
techengineer11
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 8:48amSo you are just a big Gov’t Conservative Republican? We need more Gov’t stimulus? We spend more on Defense than the rest of the world combined multiple times over.. It’s really time we reign in the waste fraud and abuse found in the DOD..
I mean how Billions do we have to lose misplace etc in Iraq and Afhg? lol
Report Post »ROMANS 10-9
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 9:01amAmen Brother!
Report Post »amagaux
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 10:26amYES BUT! In a couple of years thenext Congress will undo all this. So why worry now?
Report Post »Nepenthe
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 10:46amSo you believe it is the federal government’s job to spend and borrow in an effort to create jobs for its citizens?
Report Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 12:33pmWbalzley, not to mention the contribution of the benefits from NASA research which has had a significant impact on medical research. However, just like ALL government run operations, there has been lots of mismanagement resulting in waste of taxpayer dollars. I remember the many years of experience in Government Contracting how the thinking (or lack of it) was to never save a dollar, but, be sure you obligate every dime, or you will be cut next year.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 12:55amSomeone’s been reading the Constitution!
Report Post »wbalzley
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 1:06amooh, ooh, ooh…[raises hand enthusiastically]
Now all I have to do is read the Federalist Papers…
Report Post »http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/
DLB
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 12:38amSpeaker Boehner made a colossal mistake when it came to the creation and selection on this “Super Committee.”
The Democrats should have only had two representatives from the House. Republicans should have had four.
Report Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 12:23pmBravo DLB to your comments! Will the so-called “Super Committee” be just like the Do Nothing Congress, “…GO ALONG TO GET ALONG…?”
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 12:35amThere is a difference in cutting and restructuring the military and the absolute gutting to fatality that the Progressives Reid, Pelosi and Obama want to have happen. There is waste, deadwood and too much Congressional pet projects (that the armed forces do not want) which should be fair game, just keep what we do need and the ability to build upon the solid core if a worse case scenario does come up.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 1:33amYou are right again. This makes sense.
Report Post »Rweb
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 12:31amWe have to cut but not my sacred cow. How about closing bases in other countries. Do we really need 10 bases in Germany I think WWll is over. Let someone else be the worlds police force.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 8:17amI agree completely. Let the Germans, French and Italians pay for their own security. Keep the bases in Britain.
Report Post »Incredulous321
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 12:14amEverybodies worried about kicking Boehner out? Let this roll around in your head. The United States and Europe defenseless. Good thing no one out their hates us. At least we’ll still have a few nukes. But, their use is dependent on a President willing to use them. Yes. I’d rather see the planet destroyed then see America fall.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:57pmBoehner doesn’t realize, after One World Government we’ll have no need of a military. Just ask a liberal.
Report Post »1bambam
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 2:22amHe understands …Soros purchased his soul a while ago….Matthew 16:26 …What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:53pmBoehner buckled, so now defense gets gutted! Perhaps he should have considered that before he voted to give Emperor Obama everything he wanted!
Report Post »Fantastic Four
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 9:31amJohnny ***** doesnt even have the stones to appoint a special presecutor.
H.U.A.C. nuff said
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:51pmIf defense is crucified, then Americans will one day be slaughtered!
But by golly, they want their entitlements! They’ll be dead, but they’ll get their entitlements!
Report Post »donh2
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:46pmBoehner takes a stand …that means he is no longer crouching under his desk . He now sits upright in his big boss chair…but he’s still only seated….legs crossed at that.
Report Post »DaveOregon
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:44pmWe can’t afford to drop military budget right now – not with Obummer feeding radical islamists in the ME and bowing and bending over for China to stick us in the tucus with drilling off our coast with Cuba, etc. BUT – trust Boehner not to cave. Nope – don;t trust him at all. Only trust the Tea Party members to jam the cogs if he begins to give in like he always does!
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:56pmAnd Putin taking power again next year with a modernized nuclear arsenal 3x the size of ours, and Obama unilaterally cutting OUR nuclear arsenal at the same time! We’re committing national suicide!
Report Post »your sensei
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 8:55amDaveORegon “not with Obummer feeding radical islamists in the ME”
I’ll fix your typo for ya . . .“not with Obummer killing radical islamists in the ME”
There you go No charge.
Report Post »JD2020
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:39pmLet me get this straight Mr Speaker.
You agreed to let a “supercommittee” make cuts and if they do not make enough cuts it defaults to cutting the military, AND NOW YOU SAY, WHAT? Now YOU take a stand? What, are you a complete idiot? I mean really what did you think was going to happen? No one has agreed to anything from both sides and you expected this to work? What a complete idiot.
God help us if this is the best we Republicans can do for the Speaker of the House.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:16pmObama has weakened everything but the military so now he working on that! I think Obama is smarter than yall in congress and that smartness is not in America’s best interest! Bottom up, top down, inside out! Brace for impact!
Report Post »libsdolie
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:27pmboehner put this together he made the rules did not want to shut the goverment down gave another 2 trillion. he put the rules that if the cuts were not agreed upon it would come out of the military. Really he gave himself an esy out at the time if the debt talks. Now he wants you to think he is the hard line against his comitte. Give me a break voters should rember this and i hope the military voters in his dstrict rember it also
Report Post »libsdolie
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:29pmnow he railes against the comitte the made vote him out if you are in his district
Report Post »libsdolie
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:29pmboehner put this together he made the rules did not want to shut the goverment down gave another 2 trillion.
Report Post »libsdolie
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:33pmthis is boehners committe he made it now he wants to rail against it. give me a break
Report Post »tmplarnite
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:15pmHEY… Congress start to get real and charge $$$$$$$$$ to every and any country who wants our troops based there to ….Pay for it. I’m sick of you potus politicians stealing my money a giving it away… so you can feel good about your charity!
Report Post »CynicalPatriot
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:15pmBoehner needs to be Tea Partied in the next primary.
Report Post »1bambam
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 2:18amAhhh that would be this time next year …lets get the ball rolling
Report Post »rachany
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:11pmI don’t get it. The Republicans made a deal to increase the debt ceiling, for which a Supercommittee was created to cut spending, this was supposed to be a big victory, now, if the Supercommittee doesn’t come to an agreement (which they won’t) then the cuts are inflicted to the Defense budget (which Democrats would love to cut as much as possible). So let me see if I get it clear, the Republicans let the Democrats do what they want and if the Democrats don’t cut spending, then the Democrats get rewarded by cutting even more the Defense budget!!! Okaaaayyy!!
Report Post »Tired of Code Names
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:36pmrachany
Report Post »I don’t get it. The Republicans made a deal to increase the debt ceiling, for which a Supercommittee was created to cut spending, this was supposed to be a big victory, now, if the Supercommittee doesn’t come to an agreement (which they won’t) then the cuts are inflicted to the Defense budget (which Democrats would love to cut as much as possible). So let me see if I get it clear, the Republicans let the Democrats do what they want and if the Democrats don’t cut spending, then the Democrats get rewarded by cutting even more the Defense budget!!! Okaaaayyy!!
O.K. we all figured that out awhile ago. The choices now are Romney, Cain or Gingrich. Romney is an insider who will perpetuate those kinds of things. Cain, has my vote if he is the nominee. He will with the best of his ability try to figure out how to stop such nonsense. Gingrich……and I say this as a man of faith…I think he’s finally getting it and the light is shining for him. And looking at what he has to say….now, as a person of intellect, you should consider it. If you look at his plan to save this country, I see him as being the most intellegent and thoughtful guy who knows how to navigate the cronies in washington. I don’t know Newt Gingrich personally. He made mistakes. Forgive I would like to see Herman Cain as his vice president to make sure Gingrich keeps his promises. Then Cain in another 8 years after Cain has learned the ropes and can then sustain keeping the ball rol
poverty.sucks
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:09pmIs “crucified” supposed to be a good thing?
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:09pmBoehner you have sat by and let Obama run his crap through and all you have done is get on TV and talk about this and that and no action. What we need is action Bubba. You don‘t have to tell us what you like and what you don’t, we don’t care, you know what we don”t like. You allowed this super committee crap knowing it was the entire congress’s duty to cut spending adn to decide where to cut it. Best save the talking and start some radical action or you are history along with Obama come 2012! You haven’t stood up like you had any b_ _ls since Obama took office, you sat there and drank your tea like it was a party during the big meetings. Also I am as disappointed with the golf game as Hank Jr. is!
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:09pmBoehner better grow a pair.
That’s all I have to say about that.
Report Post »1bambam
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 2:23amHe should take Soros’s out of his mouth and use them
Report Post »wordweaver
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 10:55pmBring home the troops from Iraq and ‘Stan and you’ll save a ton of money. Those are money pits that will pay us no future dividends. Don’t strap Defense as they invest in our future national defense. I have a feeling we are going to need them.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 10:51pmthe “ super committee” is unconstitutional it removes the populations representation and places that power in just a few people it clearly violates the law
Report Post »Cynic-clinic
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:22pmThe super committee can only be constitutional if its recommendations are given to the House of Representatives for debate or created as a bill for congress to vote on.
These political schemes where default of consensus becomes law is not only a slippery slope, it is a snot-slippery slope.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 10:50pmyou return spending to 2008 levels and you will have made you 1 trillion cut in spending
and to be completely honest there are quite a few bases in europe we could do without …………..germany etc let those countries pay for their own defense instead of using money they would be spending otherwise on defense on all the other programs the left likes to bring up as examples such as their free healthcare
why do you think they can afford that free health care ???? the us supplements their defense by having our bases there if they had to supply that cost themselves, those programs would go broke quick
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 10:48pmI don’t understand this super committee…who voted them in???
Report Post »Tired of Code Names
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 10:55pmgodlovinmom
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 10:48pm
I don’t understand this super committee…who voted them in???
Our elected “representatives”. Maddening huh? Perhaps we need to finish the job started in the last election and put more conservatives in office. The Tea Party needs to amp up again just like we did previously. Can’t rest on our laurels. Too much is at stake.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on October 28, 2011 at 1:32ammaddening is an understatement….this isn’t very Christ Like…but I hope we kick their a$$e$ come 2012…just like last November…get this country back from these libral slimeballs…”sorry, about venting”
Report Post »Tired of Code Names
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 10:42pmIf Boehner were a man of principal, he would have never allowed the “super committe” to be developed nor have that ability. He caved. He’s an insider and despite his tears…..I have no tears for him. He sold out America and the greatest military on the planet to allow the super committee. Win…Win for the progressives.
Report Post »taxpro4u03
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 11:01pm‘Tears for FEARS’ — PsyOp fake — a lil Vick’s vapor Rub under the eyes, tilt the head ‘just right’ at the appropriate tear-jerkin moment and WA-LA! “Hollywood” crocodile tears. Ask Glen — he’s done it too.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 10:38pmI was wondering if the guy was still alive!
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