WASHINGTON, D.C.–Even though Pres. Obama’s proposed budget for FY2015, that starts in October, has some increases to veterans programs, some of Mississippi’s D.C. delegation has already said they won’t support it. One of the main reasons: cuts to national security.
One of those proposed points could directly affect you if you work on a military base in the state, or if your job is directly affected by one of those bases. Obama’s proposed budget involves cuts at the Pentagon that could include base realignments and possibly closures.
“I think today the greatest threat to our national security is the president and this administration,” said Cong. Steven Palazzo last week when talking to News Mississippi about the proposed cuts.
“It will put our national security at risk. And then we in Congress fix it so we can maintain our national security priorities.”
He said he doesn’t believe defense spending is the problem.
“Defense spending isn’t bankrupting this country. What’s bankrupting this country is out-of-control mandatory spending. That’s where this president has failed to be honest with the American people and has failed to lead this nation out of this financial train wreck we’re headed towards.”
Christine Warmuth, undersecretary of defense for strategy, said the cuts to defense, which include a major reduction of military ground personnel in favor of developing new military technology, are meant to save money.
“We think it’s very important in a fiscally austere environment to really put a renewed focus on trying to be as creative and forward thinking as we can in the department.”
But, Sen. Thad Cochran said Tuesday that the new budget plan actually adds $56 billion in new spending, and asks you to pay $1.8 billion in new taxes.
“The White House touts this budget as ‘opportunity for all,’ but in reality it amounts to an opportunity for Americans to be burdened with more taxes, more spending and more debt. It is a backward step,” he said.
The new budget is expected to meet its greatest challenges in the U.S. House, which is Republican-controlled.
