Dear Editor,
Polls show a consensus of Arizonans want quality education for all grade levels in our state to prepare our young people and our economy for a fruitful future. Arizonans want just immigration reform, a secure border, and more. …but it all costs money.
Our Congressmen are in the middle of a tight election, but they still have our work to do – including creating and passing the federal budget for FY2025. And while Arizonans have our priorities, Americans are also highly concerned about our ballooning deficit and excessive military budget; the latter nearing $1 Trillion.
So, what can we do to balance priorities and expenses? One thing on the table is HR4740 the Streamline Pentagon Budget Act in the House, and a bi-partisan companion bill recently introduced in the Senate by Sens Warren, Braun, Lee, and Grassley – the Streamline Pentagon Spending Act. These bills eliminate the requirement for military branches to submit ‘Unfunded Priorities Lists’. These so-called wish lists are already responsible for an additional $30.8 Billion in military spending asks for 2025. The FY2024 DOD budget was already closing in on $1Trillion at $841.4 Billion. UPL’s are passed without normal budget transparencies and oversight and no other department benefits from this extra wishlist funding. Even the Secretary of Defense supports these bills finding UPL’s wasteful and counter to DOD strategic plans. In a Sept 30, 2024 press release Sens. Warren, Grassley and Braun put it this way:
“The budget process is all about making tough decisions and setting clear priorities – requesting billions of dollars in vague ‘unfunded priorities’ undermines that process. We need to get rid of the requirement to provide these wish lists in order to cut down on wasteful spending,” said Senator Warren.
Sen Grassley says: “Strengthening national security ought to be our strict focus, and I’m always working to support robust military capabilities. But my longtime oversight shows the Pentagon can’t even balance its books, so why do our laws demand the Defense Department seek even more taxpayer dollars?”
“Our crushing national debt is a national security threat. Defense is the most important thing we do, and if we’re going to get our service members the best equipment, we need a stable budgeting process. Unfunded priority lists may have started with good intentions, but as Congress’s budget dysfunction has gotten worse it has morphed into another budgeting gimmick with negative results such as non-necessities being included in the budget and critical necessities ended up on a wish list. The nation and our military deserve a stable budgeting process, which this legislation will be a step toward.” Senator Mike Braun
In these times with so many important needs and a strong sense of fiscal responsibility, we must urge our Senators Kelly and Sinema and Rep. Gosar to support and sign onto these bills in their respective houses. Redirect these funds to things that are important to Arizonans. Let them know you care about our budget and Arizona’s future.
Leslie Morpeth
