Forum: Program and politics

Quote:

If lawmakers this year or early next year are able to set aside partisan conflict long enough to pass a $1.2 trillion deficit-paring plan, lawmakers and sources say they doubt it will mirror the Simpson-Bowles panel’s work. But, much like negotiating to buy an automobile, the commission’s report has served as a starting point for talks between Democrats and Republicans...

The Simpson-Bowles plan proposed slashing Pentagon spending by just more than $100 billion. As for specifics, it advocated a military pay freeze and sizable annual cuts to military acquisition coffers by making major changes or killing programs such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft.

Hmm

http://www.defensenews.com/article/2012 ... |FRONTPAGE

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If you read a bit more outside of this area, you'll find there are plenty more efforts to shield the military for cuts. This was the latest:

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/h ... -sequester

Apparently Graham and McCain are trying to put together some sort of deal that would close tax loopholes and use the savings to refund defense.

I really doubt that Simpson Bowles approach would be the main method to implement defense cuts. The military wouldn't accept that approach, as they want to protect certain programs like the F-35 by other cuts. ITs more likely that some sort of compromise will emerge that sees taxes increase rather than such major cuts on actual key programs. That's probably the main reason why Panetta is there: he's a budget wiz who can implement cuts, but also sell the current service levels to congress.

Forum: Program and politics

Simpson-Bowles Re-Emerges