From Ryan Grim and Sam Stein:
[T]he Pentagon is poised to reap billions more in federal funds, according to sources close to the discussions. The confines of the budget negotiations established by the two parties results in a system where every extra dollar going to military spending ends up being offset by a dollar reduction in spending on domestic social programs.
Democrats and Republicans are now moving toward an agreement that would increase defense spending. But Democratic sources close to the talks said the Democrats' spending recommendation remains roughly $2 billion shy of that of their Republican counterparts.
“If you plus up those areas together,” one high-ranking Democratic official said, “what happens is you have to take it from somewhere else. And where are you taking it from? From Labor, Education, the NIH [National Institutes of Health], health care, the social safety net. That’s how they are trying to jam us.”
Favorite quote:
Republicans say that Democrats knew from the beginning that proposed cuts to defense spending would be rejected.
And because Republicans reject it, that means we can't continue to demand it? Good, let the Republicans shut down the Pentagon because they refuse to accept the President's proposal. Like they'd dare. They wouldn't. But I just can't believe our guys won't blink.
