The debate continues about budget cuts. We need to make our voices heard to make sure that the runaway Pentagon budget is cut – before necessary “earned benefits” (entitlements). Please sign to the Jobs Not Wars petition. And email or call Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.
Many groups and coalitions are fighting to increase taxes on the rich and defend social programs, but few voices are calling for a substantial cut to the Pentagon. That’s where you come in! Call or e-mail our two senators. Urge them to fight for at least $1 Trillion in Pentagon cuts over the next decade.
The Budget Control Act of 2011 mandates $1 Trillion in cuts to the Pentagon and $1 Trillion in cuts to domestic spending over the next decade. Congress “avoided” the “cliff” and kicked the automatic across-the-board cuts into early 2013, even as they authorized additional military spending In December 2012.
The Dangers:
1. The huge arms industries are lobbying for fewer cuts to the Pentagon, resulting in more cuts to essential domestic programs which have already been cut or flat lined.
2. These cuts will prolong the depression and destroy jobs.
3. The “grand bargain” negotiated between the President’s Treasury Secretary Geithner and Republicans may let the Bush tax cuts expire and not touch the bloated Pentagon budget, while making deep cuts to Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and many other programs that help and protect people, and for confronting the climate crisis.
The Opportunities:
1. This may be our best chance to get meaningful cuts to the bloated Pentagon budget.
2. Senator Patty Murray is central to the negotiations and has spoken out against cutting social programs. She has also said that going off the cliff and having tax rates restored to pre-Bush-cuts levels at the end of the year might give Democrats more bargaining power to keep the higher taxes on the rich. Her chief aide in DC, Evan Schatz, says she needs letters encouraging her to take a strong stand:
www.murray.senate.gov or 866-481-9186.
3. Senator Maria Cantwell, also an important Senator on this issue, has not declared herself publicly on these issues. She needs to be encouraged to speak out:
www.cantwell.senate.gov or 888-648-7328
Demand A Good Bargain or No Bargain:
1. Reduce Pentagon spending by at least $1 Trillion over ten years and redirect funds to job-creating domestic investments. Pentagon waste and fraud was estimated at $102 billion in 2011. A 25% cut in our 1,000 overseas military bases would save $80 billion over 10 years. Phasing out Cold War weapons systems and curbing excess Pentagon contractor profits would save billions more. The Pentagon literally has more money than it can spend – $105 billion this year alone. After years of exceptional growth in military budgets, it is clear from at least two in-depth studies that hundreds of billions of dollars can be cut without compromising national defense.*
2. Restore revenues by allowing the Bush tax cuts for the rich to expire.
3. Redirect revenues to job creation and addressing the human and environmental needs of our people and planet
4. Make sure that new and existing veterans receive the medical care, job training, and housing assistance they need.
* Top Ten Reasons Why the Pentagon Should Be Cut by $1 Trillion (with links to more detailed information.): http://fcnl.org/blog/2c/The_top_ten_reasons/#
