Cutting Defense Spending Leaves U.S. Ill Prepared For Future, Says Panel

By Sarah Mamula - Talk Radio News Service

In our current state of economic concern and budget frugality, the notion of cutting defense spending is gaining popularity among Democrats and Republicans alike. However, the independent panel assigned to examine the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) says that in order for the U.S. military to make much needed changes, an increase in budget is vital.

Almost a week after presenting the panel’s recommendations to the House Armed Services Committee, former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Defense Secretary William Perry came together once more Tuesday in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee to reemphasize the importance of modernization within the military.

“It’s important to plan a force that we’ll need 10 to 20 years ahead,” said Perry. 

The former Defense Secretary explained many of the panel’s recommendations, including sustaining additions to the U.S. ground forces, augmenting Air Force long-range strike capabilities and increasing maritime forces in the Western Pacific.

“What we have described as a need will be expensive,” said Perry. “But, deferring recapitalization could entail even greater expenses in the long run.”

Many committee members agreed with the panel’s advice regarding potential budget constraints that would deter improvements in U.S. defenses. 

“We are in the midst of a great national debate about the priorities and spending habits of our government driven by the mounting debt,” said Senator John McCain (R-Ariz). “For the first time in a decade, there’s a growing call for real cuts in defense spending and a willingness on both sides of the aisle to consider it.”

Kerry Seeks To Exchange Teachers And Other Professionals With Muslim-Majority Countries

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced Tuesday that he will introduce legislation to set up a professional exchange program between the U.S. and countries with predominantly Muslim populations.

The exchange, set to work with 4-7 undetermined countries, will focus primarily on professionals who work within the public sector, including teachers, public help officials and city planners. Journalists and individuals working with non-profit organizations will also have preference within the exchange.

“This legislation is designed to help build professional capacity, strengthen civil society, and improve ties between the United States and Muslim-majority countries,” Kerry said in a statement. “By encouraging public-private partnerships, this program can help unite our institutions, governments, businesses, and charities around a common cause.”

Stimulus Has The "Summertime Blues"

By Rob Sanna - Talk Radio News Service

Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) released a report Tuesday entitled “Summertime Blues,” which lists 100 stimulus bill funded projects that to do not create jobs.

“We have a total now of over 300 projects [and] over $15 billion,” said Coburn. “Could we have used that 15 billion in a way that would have given us a greater economic return, a greater multiplier effect and actually had greater impact on the country? I think so.”

With unemployment rates hovering in the ninth percentile, McCain said he believes that, coupled with sinking GDP levels, unemployment is set to increase throughout the year, digging the country a deeper hole to climb out of.

“The American people have the summertime blues, as unemployment is at 9.5%, over half the homes in my homestate of Arizona are still underwater, and we have seen a decline in the Gross Domestic Product,” he said. “That indicates we are in for a long, difficult year of high unemployment.” 

Today At TRNS

Today the Washington Bureau will be covering:

Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the report of the Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel. Witness(es): Former Defense Secretary William Perry and former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, co-chairman of the Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel, testify

Senate Small Business Chairwoman Mary Landrieu, D-La. delivers remarks at a roundtable discussion on “Entrepreneurship for the Next Generation: Harnessing the Power of Young Entrepreneurs in a Changing Economic Landscape.”

The Senate Democratic/Republican Policy Committees hold their weekly policy committee closed luncheon meetings, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund holds a discussion on a new report, “The GOP’s $10 Trillion Giveaway: The Republican Jobs Plan Would Spend Trillions on Ineffective, Budget-Busting Tax Breaks for the Rich and Corporations.” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.; and Neera Tanden, Michael Linden and Pat Garofalo of the Center for American Progress Action Fund

EPA Says Dispersants Less Toxic Than Oil

by Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News Service

The Environmental Protection Agency finished its second round of toxicity testing on eight chemical dispersants and released their findings in a conference call Monday. The second round of tests on the dispersants used to combat the BP-Deepwater Horizon oil spill focused on testing the chemicals for their toxicity as compared to or combined with Sweet Louisiana Crude Oil.

Dr. Paul Anastas, the EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, told reporters that the findings show similar toxicity levels for oil-dispersant mixtures and oil alone, and that all dispersants tested less toxic than oil-dispersant mixtures. Anastas reiterated that the crude is, “enemy number one.”

The EPA supported the administration’s efforts to curtail the use of dispersants since the EPA’s May 26th directive to BP to cut down chemical application by 75%, and stated in a press release Monday; “Dispersants prevent some oil from impacting sensitive areas along the gulf coast. EPA’s position has been that BP should use as little dispersant as necessary.”

The first round of dispersant toxicity testing set out to determine the toxicity of eight chemical dispersants and their differences. The first report released in June that, “none of the eight dispersants tested, including the product in use in the Gulf, displayed biologically significant endocrine disrupting activity.” 

Although the EPA administrator assured that the testing was thorough and appropriate, some critics have brought up questions over the EPA’s sole use of juvenile fish and shrimp, which may leave room for confounding variables like reproductive issues. Some also questioned Anastas over the fact that the tests were done at “standard” temperatures and conditions, and not conditions that would mimic the recent use of the dispersants in underwater applications and extreme temperatures and pressures.