On Monday, White House and Congressional leaders reached a two year budget deal that will raise domestic and defense spending while also making cuts to Medicare and the Social Security disability program. With the House expected to vote on the deal today, AEI health and defense scholars asses what the deal means for their respective areas:
Health expert Joe Antos:
Rep. Paul Ryan has criticized the way the budget deal was made even though some argue that it will help him in his new role as Speaker of the House. That’s not the real problem. This deal increases spending over the next 2 years, by the widely-advertised $80 billion plus an additional $32 billion from a budget gimmick called the Overseas Contingency Operations fund. It pays for the extra spending with sales from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve (at a time when oil prices are at historic lows) and other changes that score well but may do little to slow unnecessary spending. It moves money from the Social Security trust fund to prop up Disability Insurance without resolving the problems that endanger both programs. Rather than addressing serious policy issues, the budget deal makes it easier for Republicans to acquiesce to President Obama’s final year of demands.
Defense expert and former member of the House Armed Services Committee Thomas Donnelly:
…Despite taking the Senate and having an expanded majority in the House, the Republican Party has signally failed to match, let alone distinguish itself from, the White House or the hard-left minority of Democrats in Congress when it comes to rebuilding America’s military strength. And despite the energetic efforts of an expanding cadre of more hawkish members – Rep Mike Turner recently rounded up 101 House Republicans, or triple the strength of the so-called “Freedom Caucus,” for a letter demanding that Congress at least match Obama’s defense request – the congressional leadership remains unmoved…Could this deal have been worse? Easily. But that doesn’t mean this deal isn’t very bad for the U.S. military. —The Weekly Standard
Defense expert Mackenzie Eaglen:
The newly negotiated budget deal for the next two years is very good news, particularly for the US military and Pentagon planners. The defense budget will be funded close to the President’s request this year, there is no threat of a havoc-wreaking long-term continuing resolution, and there is predictability in funding levels for next year…Overall, the deal is better for defense than Ryan-Murray two years ago and allows the topline to begin growing again after being flat for the past three years. —Breaking Defense
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