Big savings identified

Recent decisions of the U.S. House of Representatives make me wonder where the fiscal conservatives are hiding. Their 5 percent reduction in office supplies for House members to address the deficit in the federal budget is laughable. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office calculates that their vote to repeal Obamacare will actually add to our budget woes.

The Pentagon accounts for the largest piece of federal discretionary spending. Walter Jones, R-N.C., Ron Paul, R-Texas, Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., formed the Sustainable Defense Task Force to explore ways to reduce Pentagon spending that could be made without compromising the essential security of the United States. Along with Colin Powell, they have shown how to reduce budget authority for the Pentagon by a cool trillion dollars (that’s right, a one with a dozen zeros behind it).

They don’t suggest that we should spend a dollar less than is needed for our military, but they agree with Secretary Gates that we shouldn’t spend a dollar more. But, don’t take my word for it, Google it for yourself. A trillion dollars – now that should make any fiscal conservative’s mouth water.

Nick Block

Spokane