Inhofe, Lankford split on budget deal
U.S. Sen. Jim In ho fe said he will back the bi partisan budget deal announced Monday by President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders, even though it calls for less defense spending than he wanted.
U.S. Sen. James Lankford came out against the agreement because it lacks any long-term debt reduction tools.
“I've always said that raising the debt ceiling should be coupled with a plan to reduce our spending, debt and deficit," Lankford, R- Oklahoma City, said Tuesday.
"We must reform our budget process to get a better budget product, including my simple bipartisan plan that would help to prevent government shutdowns by forcing Congress to stay in (Washington) D.C. until the work is done.”
Inhofe, R- Tulsa, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was disappointed defense funding for the next fiscal year is less than the $750 billion authorized by legislation he co-wrote and moved through the full Senate in June.
However, he said he was “relieved” the budget deal calls for $738 billion in defense spending, more than the $ 733 billion approved by the U.S. House this month.
“This is absolutely critical as we rebuild and modernize our military to meet the needs of a nation increasingly at risk ,” Inhofe said.
The deal would raise the nation's borrowing limit for two years, eliminate the automatic acrossthe-board cuts known as sequestration and boost spending on defense and domestic programs.
House Speaker Nancy P el osi,D- Calif ., sent a letter to Democratic House members on Tuesday urging them to vote for the budget deal. She said it would “invest in middle class priorities that advance the health, financial security and well-being of the American people and enhance our national security. “
The threat of acrossthe-board cuts in the absence of a budget deal worried Inhofe and others who focus on the defense spending because of the immediate impact the cuts would have on military personnel and readiness.
Oklahoma has four major military installation s—Air Force bases near Oklahoma City, Enid and Altus and an Army post at Lawton. The Army also has an ammunition depot in McAlester.
“I' ve said over and over again that we need a budget deal t hat prioritizes defense, and I am pleased this budget agreement does just that by providing predictability and much-needed growth to our defense budget,” Inhofe said.
“Without this agreement, we can not guarantee on-time funding for the training, resources and equipment our service members need.”
Inhofe said the deal also gives Congress time to approve its annual defense policy and spending bills before the next fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.