GOP Tucks $8 Billion For Military Weaponry In Virus Bill
Source: AP News
By Andrew Taylor, 1 hr ago.
WASHINGTON (AP) A new $1 trillion COVID-19 response package by Senate Republicans is supposed to give the government more weapons to battle the surging coronavirus pandemic. But GOP lawmakers have more than just the invisible enemy in mind.
The Republican measure includes billions for F-35 fighters, Apache helicopters and infantry carriers sought by Washingtons powerful defense lobby. Overall, the proposal stuffs $8 billion into Pentagon weapons systems built by defense contractors like Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics corporate titans that sit atop the Washington influence industry.
The bill, drafted by Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Richard Shelby, R-Ala., would deposit $2.2 billion in Pentagon shipbuilding accounts, boost missile defense systems in California and Alaska and deliver about $1.4 billion for C-130 transport planes and F-35 fighters manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp. Some of the F-35s could be delivered to an Air National Guard unit in Montgomery, Alabama.
In several cases, Shelby proposes restoring cuts imposed by the administration that diverted almost $4 billion to help pay for construction of President Donald Trumps border wall. The Pentagon won significant defense increases last year with passage of a budget agreement that erased automatic spending cuts known as sequestration...
Read more: https://apnews.com/f14ef99ec7939f44860e6026624be38f
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)n/t
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)In the event that COVID-19 somehow manages evolve and arm itself we have to be ready to protect key installations.
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)All they care about is getting their kickbacks from the MIC and fattening their offshore accounts.
msongs
(67,199 posts)LiberalLovinLug
(14,154 posts)They will have to sell a lot of them to make up what they've spent developing and building and correcting etc....
Wanting to create a jet that does everything it becomes a jack of all trades and master of none. Too heavy for a fighter jet, but too light to carry as much firepower as one designed for that alone. Ripe with software fixes to patch up all the problems that happen when you try and force a jet to do way too many things in a small package.
https://www.pogo.org/investigation/2020/03/f-35-design-flaws-mounting-new-document-shows/
A new document obtained by the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) shows that the F-35 program office has made little progress in fixing the fighter jets hundreds of design flaws, and continues to discover more of them. The Joint Strike Fighter Program Offices Deficiency Report Metrics document, dated February 28, 2020, shows the program is currently dealing with 883 unresolved design flawsand has no plan for correcting over 160 of them.
underpants
(182,281 posts)Im guessing thats Bradleys. Spent 3 years on one but as a Scout.
Sapient Donkey
(1,568 posts)Basically a replacement for frontline troops in humvees.
Either way, I can't for the life of me understand why such spending would be in a covid19 relief bill.
underpants
(182,281 posts)I mean imagine!
mpcamb
(2,855 posts)I_UndergroundPanther
(12,452 posts)Should be used to help people not mic or corporate pigs.
diva77
(7,606 posts)I hope there are psychologists out there studying republican group-think and figuring out ways to put an end to it.
K&R for exposure
I_UndergroundPanther
(12,452 posts)Are all narcissists authoritarians or sociopaths using our money to fatten their piggy rich ugly bully freinds who are just like they are .
rainin
(3,010 posts)to declare war on us from now until November and beyond. More $ for weapons is especially worrisome
progree
(10,864 posts)Repeated for emphasis.
BumRushDaShow
(127,322 posts)Back-filling the money that was pulled from DOD for a wall. So in essence, taxpayers having literally "paid for a wall".
progree
(10,864 posts)Last edited Thu Jul 30, 2020, 06:16 AM - Edit history (1)
1st estimate of Q2 GDP. Plus the usual Thursday unemployment insurance claims report.... both at 830 AM ET, 730 AM CT <-edited.
BumRushDaShow
(127,322 posts)(GDP might be interesting to see if there is any contraction)
progree
(10,864 posts)per MarketWatch's economists (median forecast). I'm not predicting the stock market is going to plunge unless it's way worse than expected, which I don't think it will be. Just that it will be an interesting report. It will be here: http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/gdpnewsrelease.htm
https://www.marketwatch.com/economy-politics/calendar
BumRushDaShow
(127,322 posts)since it seems they like to do quirky things like doing "coronavirus" corrections and whatnot.
progree
(10,864 posts)than a single number, which is virtually impossible to hit exactly
BumRushDaShow
(127,322 posts)It'll still be "in the ballpark" (maybe).
Bengus81
(6,907 posts)for out of work people struggling is more than they should ever be getting.
louzke9
(296 posts)that some of the money in this bill comes from Trump's wall fund. Supposedly its the money Trump confiscated (STOLE) from the Pentagon to build his wall.
appalachiablue
(41,056 posts)greenjar_01
(6,477 posts)It's pure socialism.
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)on how to use them (300 million x $3.33 per pack). Where's the money for that?
p.s. props to Bernie for at least suggesting it: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213826738