Fully Funding Our National Security

In their refusal to negotiate a budget deal that would lift the sequester-level spending caps, Congress is unnecessarily risking critical defense and foreign policy priorities.

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Idea of the Day

Idea of the Day

As the September 30 budget deadline looms, Congress must decide whether to live within the sequester-level caps for both defense and nondefense spending, reach a sequester relief deal, or shut down the government. Although a short-term continuing resolution will paper over the problem for a few more months, the country needs a real budget deal, with increases for both defense and domestic spending.

However, rather than come to the bargaining table for a long-term to lift the unnecessary budget caps, congressional Republicans are once again playing a dangerous game of chicken. While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) accuse Democrats of prioritizing domestic programs over the Pentagon’s budget, Republican leadership in Congress is shortchanging U.S. national security.

For more on this idea, please see:

Shortchanging National Security by Kate Blakeley

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