U.S. Military Spending vs. the World

The U.S. outpaces all other nations in military expenditures. World military spending totaled more than $1.6 trillion in 2015. The U.S. accounted for 37 percent of the total.

U.S. military expenditures are roughly the size of the next seven largest military budgets around the world, combined.

In fiscal year 2015, military spending is projected to account for 54 percent of all federal discretionary spending, a total of $598.5 billion. Military spending includes: all regular activities of the Department of Defense; war spending; nuclear weapons spending; international military assistance; and other Pentagon-related spending.

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USA: President Obama proposes 2016 budget focused on middle class, but GOP complains about hikes in spending and taxes

President Barack Obama Monday (February 2) proposed a record $4 trillion federal budget with new proposals to help the middle class -- such as free community college. But he also used his budget unveiling to urge Congress to complete funding for the current year by approving funds for the Department of Homeland Security -- with no strings attached.

"They're now threatening to let Homeland Security funding expire because of their disagreeing with my actions to make our immigration system smarter, fairer and safer," said Obama, calling such action irresponsible and dangerous.

House Republicans passed a spending bill for the department that would cut off funding for the president's executive order blocking deportation for about 4 million adult illegal immigrants -- many of whom have children with legal status in the United States. Many Republicans said his executive order is a clear overstep of his authority.

Read more  President Obama proposes 2016 budget focused on middle class, but GOP complains about hikes in spending and taxes | NOLA.com

US Congress: Boehner asks why Obama willing to negotiate with Putin and not with GOP" - possible answer :"because GOP are bunch of obstructionists"

The Speaker contrasts the White House’s policy on Syria with its stance on debt-limit negotiations.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) released a Web video on Thursday seeking to contrast the White House’s willingness to work with the Russians to find a diplomatic solution in Syria against President Obama’s declaration that he won’t negotiate with Republicans over the debt limit.

“The Obama administration on working with Congress to address the debt and deficit,” the ad says, before cutting to a montage of Obama and senior members of his staff saying they will not negotiate over the country’s debt ceiling.

“The Obama administration on working with Putin on Syria,” the ad continues, before cutting to pictures of Obama looking chummy with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Why is the Obama administration willing to negotiate with Putin on Syria … But not with Congress to address Washington’s spending problem?,” text from the ad asks.

Note EU-Digest: answer should be simple for Mr.Boehner  - Mr. Putin is flexible and  intelligent while the GOP is obstructionist and without any vision.  

Read more: nmBoehner: Obama Will Work With Putin, But Not GOP? : Stop The ACLU