Tuesday
Jun222010
Hoyer Calls For Cuts In Defense Spending
By Sarah Mamula - Talk Radio News Service
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) addressed the deficit Tuesday morning, and emphasized the need to cut defense spending in addition to creating what he called “budget restraints.”
“Defense spending cannot be above careful scrutiny and analysis,” said the Majority Leader during a conference hosted by the organization Third Way.
He stressed that current levels of defense spending cannot be maintained and that unnecessary weapons systems must be cut. Hoyer stated that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has already asked Congress to discontinue funding for C-17 cargo planes and an additional engine for the F-35 strike fighter.
“I wish more of us in public life were as honest about hard budget choices as Secretary Gates has been,” said Hoyer.
By making these “hard choices,” Majority Leader Hoyer hopes to lessen and ultimately dissolve the deficit so that future generations “have the money and ability to respond in an effective way” to the current disasters and issues facing their country.
“Let us hope they look back on our generation and say ‘they were up to the task.'”
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) addressed the deficit Tuesday morning, and emphasized the need to cut defense spending in addition to creating what he called “budget restraints.”
“Defense spending cannot be above careful scrutiny and analysis,” said the Majority Leader during a conference hosted by the organization Third Way.
He stressed that current levels of defense spending cannot be maintained and that unnecessary weapons systems must be cut. Hoyer stated that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has already asked Congress to discontinue funding for C-17 cargo planes and an additional engine for the F-35 strike fighter.
“I wish more of us in public life were as honest about hard budget choices as Secretary Gates has been,” said Hoyer.
By making these “hard choices,” Majority Leader Hoyer hopes to lessen and ultimately dissolve the deficit so that future generations “have the money and ability to respond in an effective way” to the current disasters and issues facing their country.
“Let us hope they look back on our generation and say ‘they were up to the task.'”
Hoyer Blasts Early Adjourning Rumors
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer knocked down floating rumors that suggested members of Congress may be leaving Capitol Hill as early as Friday to hit the campaign trail.
“I don’t know where that report came from and the answer is no,” Hoyer said. “We’re going to be in next week. I don’t want to speculate on dates other than we’re going to be in next week. We want to try to get our work done.”
Hoyer asserted that there are a few things left on Congress’ table that need to be resolved before leaving to their respective states. He reassured reporters that the House will indeed be in session next week and will be focusing on key legislation to incentivize small business hiring and to ensure that Continuing Resolution, a resolution that keeps the government funded beyond the fiscal year, is passed.
The Leader did defend, however, the necessity for members of Congress to return to their home states as elections draw nearer.
“There’s nobody here that doubts that our members, Republicans and Democrats, would like to be in their districts talking to their constituents,” he said. “After all, they have to ask them to be rehired.”