Council for a Livable World – 2012-12-07 01:57:20

http://www.capwiz.com/clw/issues/alert/?alertid=62218191&type=CO

(December 5, 2012) — The showdown on the so-called “Fiscal Cliff” in Washington has begun. On the table is $1 trillion in automatic spending cuts of equal parts domestic and Pentagon spending, as well as the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. And the deadline is December 31st.

Congress and the White House are trying to devise a different deal. But with $1 trillion in cuts still needed, if we don’t cut the Pentagon — and specifically the nuclear weapons budget — that means more cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Tell Congress that cuts to the nuclear weapons budget need to be a part of any deal they make to avoid going over the fiscal cliff.

There are too many Pentagon programs that drain taxpayer dollars instead of reinforce national security. Nuclear weapons, for example, do little to address 21st-century threats and will cost $640 billion over the next decade. Yet some Members of Congress are trying to exempt these programs from budget cuts.

When Pentagon spending takes up half of all discretionary spending, it is imperative that we keep our bloated military budget on the table during budget negotiations.

Please email Congress and tell them to put nuclear weapons spending on the table.

Let’s look at the facts:
Pentagon spending has grown by 50% in real dollars in the last 12 years, and that’s NOT including war spending. And nearly all of the ‘cuts’ that are up for debate, aren’t even really cuts but reductions in the rate of growth.

Even if sequestration is fully enacted, the Pentago’s base budget would still be at 2006 levels, among the highest levels of spending since World War II. Surely, as we wind down two wars abroad, it only makes sense to wind down the Pentagon budget and nuclear weapons spending as well.

As long as Congress insists on making budget cuts, it’s up to us to make the case to put nuclear weapons spending on the table. We simply cannot afford to keep buying weapons that are not cost effective or strategic.

Tell Congress: Rein in nuclear weapons spending now.

Sincerely,
John Isaacs & Guy Stevens

THE LETTER
As Congress and the President consider the so-called “Fiscal Cliff” this month, we urge you to ensure that the nuclear weapons budget should be on the table for cuts.

As we wind down two wars abroad, it only makes sense reduce the Pentagon budget and nuclear weapons spending as well.

The United States spends about $60 billion a year on nuclear weapons, mostly Cold War relics when the money could better be spent confronting 21st century threats.