Action Alert: Federal Government - Budget Cuts and Military Spending
April 2003
From: UNITED METHODIST WOMEN’S ACTION NETWORK
Women’s Division – General Board of Global Ministries
100 Maryland Avenue, NE Suite 530 – Washington, DC 20002
Tel. (202) 488-5660 * Fax (202) 488-5681

Therefore it should be resolved that:

  1. The Women’s Division express its concern about the proposed budget cuts affecting human needs programs and increased military spending.
  2. The President of the Women’s Division send a letter to Christian Social Action Coordinators requesting that they: Call upon their Senators or Representatives at their home office.
  3. A delegation should be sent from the Women’s Division to meet with key Senators of the Committee of Appropriations, the Budget Committee, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.[1]

 President George W. Bush would like to spend $396.1 billion for military expenses out of the $2.13 trillion budget for 2003.[2]  The implementation of war against Iraq is expected to cost $90 billion.  And, the post-war presence of the American military in Iraq has a projected cost of $1 billion a month.[3]  This proposed increase in defense spending accompanied by the tax cut of $1.35 trillion will reduce social programs budgets (that have not occurred since Ronald Reagan’s term in office) for highway spending, public housing, as well as the Labor Department’s enforcement of workers’ safety standards and the minimum wage.[4]  The most vulnerable members of society are the most victimized by the increased military spending. 

Women’s Action For New Directions (WAND), an organization located in Arlington Massachusetts that helps women shift military spending towards social services also noted that the military consumes 53% of the federal budget whereas only 6% is dedicated to health and 9% to education, training, employment and social services.[5]  Currently with the government appropriating 6% of the budget to health, many children are not covered by health insurance and the elderly cannot afford prescription drugs.  If the social programs are cut further, these Americans will be more aversely affected. 

Richard Kogan, an analyst from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities noted that the budget cuts due to increases in military expenditures from a war with Iraq would mostly affect “welfare recipients, higher education assistance, nutrition and health and housing programs.”[6]  The Lysistrata Project, an organization advocating peace and nonviolence too realized the consequences of rising military expenditures.[7]  They acknowledged that the federal government’s FY 2003 proposed $16, 458,000,000 on nuclear weaponry could pay for “2,380,755 (for) children in Head Start programs, 7,052, 535 (for) kids with healthcare, 235,114 (for) units of affordable housing, (and) 313, 635 (for) salaries for elementary school teachers.”[8]  By decreasing welfare payments, low-income families will face difficulties paying bills and caring for their children.  Single mothers will be forced to support themselves and may not be able to afford sending their children to daycare.  Pregnant women without medical assistance will suffer from malnutrition and endanger the health of their unborn babies.  Furthermore, babies born prematurely may not gain access to prenatal care due to cuts in healthcare. 

By appropriating more money towards military spending instead of elementary education, children from low-income families will be left uneducated and with little skills.  Without being educated, they will be unable to break the cycle of impoverishment.  Likewise, if the budget appropriation of 9% for education and training decreases, a student in need of financial assistance will be unable to obtain an advanced degree.  It is important for the United Methodist Women’s Division support the basic needs and rights of Americans most victimized by budget cuts.

1.)                Scriptural Base: 

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.  They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.  Isaiah 2:4

2.)                Policy Base: 

Book of Resolutions, #216 page 536.  United States Economic Issues:  Enabling Support for Domestic Programs.

The Social Principles, Paragraph 162 III:  The Social Community.

3.)                Financial Implications:

None

4.)                Source of Funds:

Not Applicable

[1] See United States Senate, www.senate.gov.

[2] “48 Billion in Increased Military Spending,” http://www.wand.org/getfacts/index/03-budget.html.

[3] Senator John McCain speaking on ABC’s Nightline, March 4, 2003.

[4] See “Bush budget shifts priorities from human needs to war,” www.ucc.org/justice/weekly/w020602htm.. p.1.

[5] See “48 Billion in Increased Military Spending,”  http://www.wand.org/getfacts/index/03-budget.htm .

[7] The Lysistrata Project is an organization founded in 2003 to promote peace and justice through Gandhian nonviolence methods.  Lysistrata is the name of the heroine in a play written by Aristophanes in the third century BC.  It means “releaser of war.”