Barney Frank: Start deficit reduction with big defense cuts

As Washington searches for politically feasible ways to bring down its deficits, Democratic Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts said Monday morning that lawmakers should start with cuts to defense spending.

Following the battle over raising the nation's debt ceiling, rating agency Standard and Poor's downgraded America's credit because of both deficit problems and apparent political turmoil. On CBS' "The Early Show," Frank said that defense cuts is one proposal for deficit reduction that should get bipartisan support.

He added that defense cuts should come before other spending cuts because it is the "one area in American policy where we are doing things disproportionate to the rest of the world."

"We don't give our older people more medical care, we don't have a better retirement, we don't spend more on the environment," he said. "Where America is disproportionate is our willingness to be the military policemen for the whole world."

Special section: America's debt battle

As part of the deal to raise the debt ceiling, Congress must agree to another $1.5 trillion in spending cuts before the end of the year -- either by passing a plan created by a 12-member, bipartisan congressional "super committee," or rejecting it and allowing across-the-board cuts in areas like Medicare and national security. Frank said he's skeptical the "super committee" will agree to much of anything, besides to cut defense spending.

The Democrat said he's going to make defense cuts his "mantra" for the next few months and already has the support of some conservatives, such as Rep. Ron Paul, the Republican presidential candidate known for his libertarian views.

"If we're looking for something that breaks the mold, it's the military spending that is far disproportionate," Frank said. "I want us to be the strongest nation in the world. We could be the strongest nation in the world for $400 billion instead of $700 billion, or $450 billion instead of $700 billion. We could easily save more than $200 billion without in any way endangering our security."

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[RobAla]

I don't think Frank is considering China, North Korea, and Iran to be part of the rest of the world. Those countries spend a very large portion of their national budgets on building a military. We live in a very volatile world, and I wish the US didn't need a strong military - but we do. National defense is the first Constitutional duty of the federal government. Frank is in the weeds on this. This is no time to weaken the US military.

[AZDarkblade]

The Federal Government is already demanding that subcontractors lean up and process improve. They have mandated that through flowdowns for at least the past seven or so years. That is already happening.

I think our involvement in the United Nations surely should be cut back. We do not have to be defenders of everything. Let the other countries see what happens and in the vacuum of NOT doing what we do let us see if any of them step up. Hating the US is convenient. What happens when we remove the cause of that hatred?

What is ironic is that right next to us is a country that causes more direct harm to our nation then any of the foreign nations, and yet we allow tribal rule to go unchallenged there. We allow illegals to permeate the country, we allow drugs to permeate the country.

Go figure.

[gep1955]

Hey Barney, how about we start with congressional pay cuts! You get paid when your fiscal house is in order.

[NDPenDnt1]

B. Frank would cut military spending? At least the money spent in that area mostly goes to those companies and individuals who pay SOME taxes. BF would likely re-direct it to welfare entitlements in a effort to secure his position. How many lay-offs would occur if BF has his way?
I agree with earlier comments that Congressional pay be reduced as well as the president's. They should have the same coverage and access to health care as our average military personnel at a VA hospital. A 401k with a 3% matching contribution and a retirement plan consistent with the rest of corporate America if they can stay in office long enough to get one.
Current policies are unsustainable.

[rwjacksr]

I have a perfect way to cut spending in Washington with out cutting the Military Budget, will not cut Social Security, will not raise Taxes, Cut both houses of congress pay to $15.00 per hour, pay their expenses while in Washington only and give them no benefits just like any other part time job,then cut the salary for the President to $49,900 per year minus benefits and pay his expenses only while conducting official government business and give him 2 weeks vacation a year, if he wants to use AF1 or MC1 for campaigning let him pay the cost plus for it's use.

[RobAla]

With the country falling apart around us, Barney Frank is alway good for a laugh. Oh... you mean he was serious?

[AmeicanCustom]

Yea man, like Down with the Industrial Military Complex man!
Did I sound like the Hippies and beatniks. The fore fathers of the Progressives on here with cut spending on the military that lets us sleep safe at night?
Hippies or even the Beatniks.
They were so stoned all the time, they misunderstood what IKE had said.
They thought it meant to dodge the draft, burn the flag and be leftwing radical anti-American subversives.
The shameful legacy lives on.

[documemts]

"The shameful legacy" of Vietnam lives on!--- You mean?

[AmeicanCustom]

That's exactly what a anti- American hippie would have said.
A good Democratic president named JFK saw the need to fight communism to stop it from spreading like this Muslim terrorism you also were against fighting after 9/11.
It was the cowardly kissing cousins of the communists that caused us to lose that war. Just like you were trying to undermine Bush but not Obama in fighting the terrorists.
What is it with you leftwingers?
The freedom moochers at the expense of the people who fight the wars is what you are.
No that is also shameful.

[documemts]

BIG defense cuts. 'BIG CUTS' Lop off that lard.

[cktirumalai]

Given his political posiiion, Representative Frank would cut Defence and devote the money saved to the social safety net: the classic liberal stance.
Diferently inclined members of Congress consider Defence sacrosanct and would do the opposite.
Will the super-committee, whose mambers will be chosen in equal numbers by Democrats and Republicans, merely reflect these deep divisions, merely reflect thede divisions or work out an independent position which has a chance of being approved by Congress?
Candadai Tirumalai

[AmeicanCustom]

Bawney Fwank is the opposite of the old E.F Hutton.
When he speaks nobody listens.