More for defense under new GOP ‘contract’ -"Contract with America Renewed"

[The Straight Story]

March 08, 2006

More for defense under new GOP ‘contract’

By Rick Maze
Times staff writer

House Republicans have introduced an updated version of the 1994 Contract with America that helped them wrestle control of Congress from Democrats. Their new plan promises big increases in the defense budget, but no rubber stamp.

The new document, called Contract with America Renewed, calls for a $77.5 billion increase in the 2007 defense budget over the Bush administration’s plan. Excluding emergency spending, this would be a $25.2 increase over 2006.

The proposed contract is prepared as a Republican alternative budget that also calls for increases in veterans’ programs while cutting spending for many domestic programs.

The 1994 Contract with America included a large section on defense, called the National Security Restoration Act that pledged to reverse Clinton-era cuts in defense programs. It also included other provisions, such as restricting the U.S. military from taking part in any military operations where troops would be under foreign command, restricting U.S. involvement in multinational peacekeeping and requiring deployment of an anti-ballistic missile defense system.

The new “Contract,” unveiled by Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, chairman of the House Republican Study Committee, says any further defense increases beyond 2007 would have to be funded by offsetting cuts in nondefense programs, but that “any serious effort to balance the budget must not allow the Department of Defense to escape the scrutiny” that other government agencies face.

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1585006.php

[FloridaPat]

1. Weren't the Democrats suppose to come up wit a plan? Soon? Before Nov?

[ebayfool]

2. More like a 'Contract On America'.

Do you think the people are stupid enough to buy this routine again?

I know, that was a stupid question - of course some of them will.