Defense Drumbeat

Yesterday, Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) opposed an amendment that ties any authorized spending on defense to the amount spent on non-defense priorities.

Defense spending should not be "...tied to a domestic political agenda on the EPA, the IRS, education, transportation...my point is, all of those things need to stand on their own merits and defense needs to stand on its own merits. Support for our military needs to stand on its own merits. Having planes that fly and ships that sail and adequate funding for our troops and their families stand on their own merits. It cannot be conditional upon whether or not this Congress or this President agrees on other spending items..."

"It is absolutely wrong to say we will only support these military folks if we get what we want on the domestic side."

Watch the Chairman's objection to this amendment here.