Spending Reduction Act of 2011 Still Doesn't Cut Military Spending or Homeland Security

Republicans don't get it. The United States spends nearly 50% of every dollar in the world on military spending, and yet, as they talk tough budget cuts totaling nearly $2.5 trillion in spending cuts, US News gives a general overview of where the spending cuts come from, including defunding Obamacare. While I am all for defunding Obamacare, I just get a bad feeling the federal government is going to find a way to get the money to the ill-conceived healthcare plan no matter what happens.

Moving aggressively to make good on election promises to slash the federal budget, the House GOP today unveiled an eye-popping plan to eliminate $2.5 trillion in spending over the next 10 years. Gone would be Amtrak subsidies, fat checks to the Legal Services Corporation and National Endowment for the Arts, and some $900 million to run President Obama's healthcare reform program. [See a gallery of political caricatures.]


What's more, the "Spending Reduction Act of 2011" proposed by members of the conservative Republican Study Committee, chaired by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, would reduce current spending for non-defense, non-homeland security and non-veterans programs to 2008 levels, eliminate federal control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, cut the federal workforce by 15 percent through attrition, and cut some $80 billion by blocking implementation of Obamacare. [See a slide show of the top Congressional travel destinations.]

Looking at the generalities of this plan, it appears to me the Republicans aren't making deep enough cuts. We could still have an efficient and effective military and still make significant cuts to the military budget. As well, it appears the police state bureaucracy known as the Department of Homeland security is going to continue to be fed despite its numerous violations against Americans and their rights. This alone tells me a lot about the GOP in 2011, despite their claims they are ready to save the Constitution.

As well, 2008 wasn't a great year to model any budget cuts after. After all, when everything was said and done, there was another $450 billion added to the US national debt. The GOP must learn that if they are going to effectively reduce the national debt, military and homeland security must be on the table too.