Don't cut Medicare, cut the Pentagon!

Shared by Peace Action

When Congress came to a deal over the budget negotiations earlier this month, they finally agreed to make the top 1% pay their fair share. It was a huge victory, but noticeably absent from the deal was what to do with the $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts. Instead Congress gave themselves a two-month extension to hammer out a deal. We are joining with US Action to call for cuts in runaway Pentagon spending.

This could be our best opportunity to rein in Pentagon spending. We simply have to stop paying for the things we don’t need so that we can afford the things we do – like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. With a deadline of March 1st, lobbyists representing fat cat Pentagon contractors are already circling the halls of Congress to ensure they get the best deal.

Now it’s time Congress heard from the People too. Click here to tell Congress to rein in wasteful military spending.

The idea that Social Security, which has not contributed one cent to the deficit, is even being considered as part of a plan to address our national debt is outrageous. Meanwhile, if some in Congress get their way, the Pentagon, which makes up more than half of all discretionary spending, will be shielded from cuts. But it only takes a little digging to see why.

With salaries of $26 million a year, some Pentagon contractor CEOs make more than all but two Wall Street CEOs, and they have every intention of keeping it that way.

In the last election cycle, Pentagon contractors and CEOs donated more than $24 million to influence our elections, and have given over $189 million since 1990. These campaign contributions have given fat cat Pentagon contractors undue influence on Congress. But while Congress lends a sympathetic ear to their wealthy campaign donors, the American people are getting shut out of the process.

If we’re going to end Pentagon contractors’ stranglehold on Congress, then we need to make our voices loud and clear. Click here to join Peace Action and US Action as we call on Congress to rein in wasteful Pentagon spending. No cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security!

Humbly for Peace,
Kevin Martin
Executive Director
Peace Action