Rep. Frank Says Military Spending Must Fall to Ease Deficit

By Pete Kasperowicz - 10/24/11 11:48 AM ET

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said over the weekend that U.S. defense spending must fall dramatically in order for the deficit-reduction supercommittee to reach its goal of cutting $1.5 trillion in spending over the next decade.

"I am convinced that we cannot reduce the deficit over that 10-year period in a responsible way, the way that leaves us able to still protect the quality of life here in America and to promote good economic activity in America, unless we substantially reduce America's worldwide military footprint," Frank said Sunday, as reported by the Taunton Daily Gazette.

Frank argued that defense spending was more than half of all discretionary spending in 2010 and said much of this was for military bases overseas that are not involved in wars in the Middle East.

Frank's comments represent one side of a debate that is expected to pick up in the coming weeks, as the supercommittee is due to come up with a set of spending reductions by Nov 23. Expectations are very low for an agreement on how to cut spending, but failure to reach a deal would open the door to mandated defense and entitlement cuts.

This possibility has already led to warnings from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and others about the idea of $500 billion in automatic cuts to defense — McCain has indicated several times that he would fight any such cuts, raising the question of whether Congress might retreat from the additional cuts entirely.

Weekend press reports said Bank of America is predicting another downgrade in the U.S. credit rating fueled by concerns that Congress will not be able to reach any agreement to cut spending further.