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Trustee Archive
In 2022, we spent 3.3% of our GDP on defense. These expenditures now total about $742 billion, an amount equal to the defense budgets of the next 7 largest nations combined – or more than twice as much as China ($300 billion), Russia ($66 billion) and the world’s “rogue” nations combined. This amount does not include the budgets of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security, our nuclear weapons program, the debt payments from past wars, or intelligence operations conducted by the FBI and NASA. We seldom cut our defense budget. The end of the Cold War and the 2011 Sequester budget cuts are rare examples of such cuts.
Supporters of our military budget claim these expenditures help drive our economy and are needed to protect our interests and maintain peace abroad. Considering China’s resurgence, many proponents say we need an even larger military presence than the one we have.
Opponents say our present level of defense spending is the biggest driver of our nation’s debt and is consuming the funds needed for domestic programs such as rebuilding infrastructure, investing in education and fighting climate change. They claim we do not need a military large enough to fulfill the role of the world’s policeman, and that we should insist other free nations equitably contribute to maintaining world peace.
Proposed Legislation: Introducing legislation to reduce our military budget by either 1% of GDP or an amount equal to the combined military budgets of the next 5 largest nations, whichever amount is less.
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) |
- I oppose reforming current defense spending policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
- I support introducing legislation to reduce our defense budget by either 1% of GDP or an amount equal to the combined military budgets of the next 5 largest nations, whichever amount is less, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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| Winning Option
»» No issues were voted |
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I support introducing legislation to reduce our defense budget by either 1% of GDP or an amount equal to the combined military budgets of the next 5 largest nations, whichever amount is less, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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- Project on Government Oversight
If elected as a trustee, Project on Government Oversight will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to work and advocate for reducing the defense budget.
About: The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption, abuse of power, and when the government fails to serve the public or silences those who report wrongdoing. We champion reforms to achieve a more effective, ethical, and accountable federal government that safeguards constitutional principles. Our investigations into waste, fraud, corruption, and abuse of power allow us to find deficiencies in federal government policies, programs, and projects. Our public policy advocacy seeks to create a more effective, ethical, and accountable federal government by exploring and pushing for policy reforms that address the systemic issues uncovered by our investigations.
- Representative Military - Military Spending
If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting her to favorably consider introducing legislation to reduce our defense budget by either 1% of GDP or an amount equal to the combined military budgets of the next 5 largest countries, whichever is less.
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- No trustee votes received.
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| Poll Opening Date |
May 15, 2023 |
| Poll Closing Date |
May 21, 2023 |
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