Michigan’s senior senator Gary Peters, a Navy veteran, wealth management advisor and attorney, on July 21, 2016, named the elephant in the room during a contentious Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked for nearly $70 billion in additional funding for the war in Iran.
Peters accused the administration of asking taxpayers for a blank check and argued that the Trump administration has failed to achieve its objectives while asking for more money:
“Secretary Hegseth, over the course of the war with Iran, I have repeatedly expressed concerns regarding the administration’s lack of a winning strategy and repeated contradictions about the state of the war. It frankly doesn’t help that you and your president continues to mislead the American people.”
He encouraged fiscal responsibility.
“Secretary Hegseth, you have trillions — you have over a trillion dollars. You’re asking for $1.5 trillion. It’s not a question of money. It’s a question of leadership and understanding what it takes to actually win.”
He challenged military leadership.
“You, sir, are the failure. Not the men and women who are on that front line. Not the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction. But if there’s a lack of a winning strategy, they’re in harm’s way. Their leaders have failed them.”
Thanks, Sen. Peters.
Whether you agree or disagree with the war in Iran, America should never become numb to billion-dollar requests from Washington. Peters did what every senator should do. He asked tough questions. He called for accountability.
There comes a point when my mind cannot comprehend what tens of billions of dollars looks like or what they can purchase. The federal budget doesn’t function as simply shifting money from one bucket to another, but for comparison’s sake, here’s how $67 billion could be appropriated elsewhere:
In Michigan, it could:
Nationally, it could:
There is nothing wrong with supporting a strong military and still insisting on holding its leadership accountable.
If $67 billion is necessary to continue the war in Iran through Sept. 30, the administration should make the case with facts, transparency and measurable objectives — not simply expect it because it asked. The cost of the war in Iran has trickled down to Michigan families in the form of increased energy prices, farming expenses and exports. Americans are paying more for food, utilities and basic expenses. In many cases, they are making dramatic budget adjustments.
Sen. Peters’ leadership Tuesday reminded Washington and Michigan that taxpayers deserve more than just a request. They deserve the accountability and rigor that families apply to their budget as they make it month to month.
Byron McCauley is a regional columnist for USA Today Co. Email bmccauley@usatodayco.com. Call (513) 504-8915.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Sen. Gary Peters demands accountability for war spending | Opinion
Reporting by Byron McCauley, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Byron McCauley, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
