Reporters aren’t the only people mischaracterizing the proposed defense budget overhaul. Members of Congress are doing their part, too. Important members of Congress. Members like Rep. John McHugh (R-NY), the ranking member on the House Armed Services committee, who presumably knows a thing or two about defense budgets.
According to Reuters, “Representative John McHugh…also weighed in, saying the proposals would amount to $8 billion in cuts in defense spending.”
As we just documented, though, the Gates proposal would amount to a four percent increase–from $513 billion to $534 billion. I have a call in to the committee’s minority staff to clarify–it could be the case that Reuters mischaracterized what McHugh actually said. But either way, the record continues to be pretty badly distorted.
