GOP compromise on debt: Cut military spending? (GOP may compromise on higher taxes, DoD pork)

The Washington Post ^ | 2011-06-26 | Lori Montgomery & Paul Kane

[rabscuttle385]

As President Obama prepares to meet Monday with Senate leaders to try to restart talks over the swollen national debt, some Republicans see a potential path to compromise: Significant cuts in military spending.

Senior GOP lawmakers and leadership aides said it would be far easier to build support for a debt-reduction package that cuts the Pentagon budget – a key Democratic demand – than one that raises revenue by tinkering with the tax code.

(snip)

In listening sessions with their rank and file, House Republican leaders said they have found a surprising willingness to consider defense cuts that would have been unthinkable when they last controlled the House five years ago. While the sessions have sparked heated debate on many issues, Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), the deputy GOP whip, said there are few lawmakers left who view the Pentagon budget as sacrosanct.

“When we say everything is on the table, that’s what we mean,” said House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the No. 3 leader who has been hosting the listening sessions in his Capitol offices.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

WaPo telling lies again.

[cripplecreek]

I don’t understand why nobody has the stones to cut funds to agencies like the EPA. The regulatory agencies are doing the greatest amount of damage and will be missed by the fewest number of people.

[Jacquerie]

You can always be counted on to spread the leftist talking points. Congrats.

[dforest]

I would be careful believing this until I see another source.

[Venturer]

Iwouldn’t cut funds, I would cut Agencies.

Department of education
Department of Agriculture
Department of Energy.

Gone and forgotten,

[o2bfree]

This would be a perfect outcome for the Democrat Socialists.

If the GOP does this they’d be handing the House right back to the Socialists.

[BobP]

The debt bomb has already gone off! We are just waiting for the shockwave to reach our house! No shelter and no place to go...

The next six weeks are going to be momentous for our nation. We need an immediate and guaranteed cut of $500 billion or more in FY '12.

Guess what we're going to get from either party's crooks and good ol' boys' Senate club?

When Republicans Say Bipartisanship, They Mean Surrender

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says ''the best advise I can give you John is to ignore any symptoms and also ignore the concerns from taxpayers that will arise after taking your blue pill medicaton. Your friendly, progressive DNC is the medication expert and is there to help you... steer for the cliff!'' /sarc

[org.whodat]

As of to-days date, boner and cantor have the republican congress on that path, they like playing golf and not dealing with the head ache of leadership.

[mrsmith]

“some Republicans see a potential path to compromise: Significant cuts in military spending. “

But they don’t give a single example of any Republican doing or saying so- just a desire to cut “pork”, including in the military.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Cut military spending in Blue states. What are they going to do, make excuses there also? Your going to lose the district anyway. Might as well have the rats say no.

[Trod Upon]

There’s fat to be trimmed at the Pentagon, but it’s just one facet of our Big Government problem.

[Brett11]

The compromise has to be on where to cut spending, not on whether or not to raise taxes. So this is a very good idea. I wouldn’t cut legitimate defense spending, but we could save hundreds of billions of dollars by bringing our troops home from Afghanistan, Germany, Japan, Kosovo, England, etc.

[heiss]

Absolutely. I’m sure military budget has pork too so it can be cut (I remember Ted Kennedy supporting some military program that Army specifically said it does not need, because the manufacturing was in his district).

Let’s cut 2% of military budget, based on recommendation and approval of the Generals, in exchange of cutting spending from EPA and other Gov Agencies and that abortion group established by Klu Klux Klan leader (Planned PP).

[screaminsunshine]

Remember the old saying? Not a dimes worth of difference? Well....

[kabar]

We are headed for the same choices other welfare states have made, i.e., guns or butter. Inevitably butter wins. The US is in decline as a world power. It happened to the Brits (no troops East of Suez) and it will happen to us.

[EternalVigilance]

steer for the cliff!

With the Republicans it's like Groundhog Day, except they're not smart enough to do anything different tomorrow.

[achilles2000]

You forget HUD, Dept of Veterans’ Affairs, and HHR.

[kabar]

What exactly is "legitimate defense spending?" Do we cut hardware, personnel, technology? Hundreds of billions? How much of that comes out of the base?

[cranked]

They had better be lying cause frankly, I am seriously growing tired of GOP-Idiots having either no balls or lacking spines or both. =.=