Texas congressmen question President Obama’s 2017 budget

While President Barack Obama’s proposed fiscal year 2017 budget of $4.1 trillion sets aside more than $580 billion for Department of Defense spending and offsets the continued effects of sequestration, the budget is fundamentally flawed, according to the offices of U.S. Reps. Roger Williams and John Carter, the two Republican congressmen who represent Fort Hood and the surrounding area.

Obama sent the budget in early February to Congress, which will have months to mull it over before voting on it.

“Congressman Williams has stressed time and again that Washington needs to get back to regular order — meaning we must produce an annual budget and follow that up with 12 appropriations bills, one of which is specifically for the Pentagon, that fit within those parameters,” according to a statement from Williams’ office. “We need to get the military out of sequestration and give our generals the resources they need to accomplish their missions and keep America safe. By waiting until the last minute, Congress has, as of late, weakened its negotiating power with an out of control president.”

Carter’s office also criticized the proposed budget, which relies on tax hikes to fund domestic programs.

“President Obama’s budget request will increase spending and increase our debt,” Carter’s spokeswoman, Corry Schiermeyer, said in a statement to the Herald. “Rep. Carter will be working with his colleagues to fully fund our military, without increasing taxes or adding to our deficit. We must control government spending, and we must not jeopardize our national security by slashing our military.”