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Duncan Hunter Says Obama Defense Budget Is ‘Scary’ for San Diego

Five members of Congress offer views on jobs, health care and defense at business forum.

President Barack Obama’s proposed defense budget would leave San Diego “less protected,” Rep. Duncan D. Hunter said Tuesday at a business forum with four other members of Congress. “Things are going to get scary.”

Hunter, a former Marine, said Obama’s request for $671 billion for the Pentagon doesn’t fall in line with the president’s “strategic pivot” for the Asia-Pacific region. 

Such cuts hurt the region, said Hunter, who represents East County and north inland parts of the county. 

“Defense has been cut,” the Republican Hunter said of last year’s agreement to cut $487 billion to defense over a decade. “San Diego will be less protected. The budget doesn’t match up to the strategy and I think that’s where things are going to get scary.”

All five of San Diego County's congressional representatives came together for a discussion that also touched on jobs and health care. 

The luncheon—hosted by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce at the Marriott in downtown San Diego—featured Reps. Brian Bilbray, Darrell Issa, Susan Davis, Bob Filner and Hunter. 

The panel, moderated by KUSI anchor David Davis, asked each member of Congress various questions, but military and the cuts to defense drew the most the discussion.

Democrat Filner, a San Diego mayoral candidate, said defense cuts need to be made.

“We have an incredible deficit,” Filner said. “We have to cut the military budget—it’s got to be more efficient.” 

Republican Bilbray said the most important question for Americans to ask themselves is how big a role they’d like to play around the world.

“There are some tough decisions, and priorities need to be made,” Bilbray said. “We just got to make some priority decisions—do we continue to be Big Brother everywhere? We need to be more with what we have and quit being the sugar daddy.”

Syria’s bloody crackdown on dissidents also was discussed—with Democrat Davis and Hunter agreeing that putting U.S. armed forces in the country wasn’t currently an option.

Job growth also was heavily discussed with Bilbray blasting federal government regulations. 

“We need to quit punishing people for creating economic opportunities,” said Bilbray, who gave various examples of local companies being handicapped. “It’s costing jobs and it’s hurting the ability to save lives.” 

Hunter echoed Bilbray by saying the Obama administration is “hell-bent on making it as hard as possible” for businesses to grow.

But Filner said policy is needed to keep a government functioning and that local and state leaders need to work with federal agencies, and he blasted Bilbray, Hunter and Republican Issa for voting against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 

The discussion also included the controversial 2010 Affordable Care and Prevention Act being reviewed by the Supreme Court. 

Filner and Davis said the court should support the health-care overhaul while Hunter and Bilbray said it should be overturned.

Issa said it wasn’t a matter of whether the law is “good or bad” but its constitutionality. Moreover, he said problems would still exist whether laws were enacted or not.

“This doesn’t fix anything,” Issa said. “The real problem we have to solve is: Why does it cost twice as much to provide health care than in Canada? Our system isn’t twice as good.”

The luncheon attracted hundreds of attendees, including elected leaders of San Diego, National City and Solana Beach.

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Mary April 4, 2012 at 09:49 pm
cont -
I don’t like politicians that try scare tactics, or misrepresent the facts. Representative Hunter is quoted as saying “I think that’s where things are going to get scary.” I’m just trying to nail down what scary thing does he think is going to happen, what part of Obama Defense Budget cuts are going to cause it, and which Gov’t Department is responsible to ensure it doesn’t happen. What I would really like to know why Representative Issa is going after the US Post Office? Business in rural American will be impacted detrimentally and I for one don’t think we need to loose anymore American companies.
Margie Logue April 8, 2012 at 03:01 am
And who is going to invade us? The US spends 8 times more than the 2nd highest defense spender (China) We have close to 1000 military bases all over the world. Please explain why we need over 200 bases in Germany alone. Republicans thrive on fear-mongering. We may need to be afraid all right, afraid of sending our young men and women to die or be maimed in a senseless no-win war. just to "Protect" the assets of the 1%. Many people make a lot of money when this country is at war and they don't care whose child has to die for it. Most of their kids don't serve in the military.
Batman April 8, 2012 at 04:12 am
Nobody will, as long as we maintain superiority. That is nobody will invade us militarily. Enemies of America are already here, and they want more of their buddies to come in. If you want to know who they are just look at who wants to leave the borders wide open.
Mary April 8, 2012 at 04:09 pm
I don't know what happened to Margie's comments or Batman's response.
But, Batman - That is the second time you said “just look at who wants to leave the borders wide open.” I don’t like to make assumptions about someone else’s thoughts. Who do think wants to leave the borders wide open? I’m still waiting for Representative Hunter or his staff to answer my original question. Please explain exactly what Defense Budget cuts will leave San Diego less protected?
Mary April 8, 2012 at 04:19 pm
I am also hoping for an answer from Representative Bilbray or his staff to my following post:
Mary 10:16 am on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Of Representative Bilbray I would ask, what federal government regulations in particular do you think are “punishing people for creating economic opportunities”? As I was not in attendance at the referenced meeting, but the article above indicated you “gave various examples of local companies being handicapped”, could you reiterate what companies those are. which federal regulation is impacting them, and just what that effect is? I would truly enjoy being able to intelligently discuss over-regulation with some of my liberal friends. Kevin gave me some interesting reading but I'm looking for our local companies that are impacted and how.
Mary April 8, 2012 at 04:35 pm
Since Deni brought up Representative Issa stating “It takes … Bilbray/Hunter/Issa to protect us.” I am still trying to figure out why Representative Issa believes that in the next 10 years, the US Post Office needs to fund their Government Employees Retirement Fund for 75 years. I am not aware of any other Govt Agency that is required to fund their retirement commitments WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS. Many of our rural post offices will be closing because of this congressional requirement which I believe will endanger rural small business. We all need to voice our opinions to each of our representatives to stop this insanity.
Mum April 10, 2012 at 03:35 am
An interesting discussion here. Don't think for a minute that DOD isn't keeping an eye on DHS money and missions. And don't think that they are looking out for San Diego because they are "from" here.
When it comes to that border...take nothing for granted.
Ned April 10, 2012 at 12:16 pm
I will take talk of cutting the military seriously when they get rid of the "for-profit" weapon corporations, privatized mercenaries (Blackwater), and also promise NOT to cut the medical, retirement, housing, etc... services afforded our men and women who have, and are currently serving.
Cut the fatcat crony profiteers out and support our troops. ---
David B Secor April 10, 2012 at 02:53 pm
Darrell Issa (R-District 49) is the richest person in the Congress. He has interest in killing the Postal Service so his friends can make more millions. That businesses and individuals, urban and especially rural, will really get shafted means nothing to him. You can google his history to see how he got his millions and you'll see he is simply a predator. Ask Hunter and Bilbray why they haven't come out opposing Issa's plan to kill the Postal Service. They are on the take, too.
By the way, the Congress, at the end of the Bush administration came up with the idea to force the Postal Service to fund it's pension system 75 years in advance in FIVE YEARS! The Postal Service, which now receives NO taxpayer money, is actually making a profit. But this forced pension funding makes it LOOK like they are $5 billion in the red this year. They actually now have many billions in the pension fund, but we are not told. Congress could fix this by just writing a NEW bill that is not a Postal Service killer. For this scam alone, Issa should be out of office!
David B Secor April 10, 2012 at 03:01 pm
There is a Candidates Town Hall meeting tomorrow, Wednesday the 11th at 6pm, at the Ramona Public Library where everyone is free to ask questions, or just listen to others' questions to the candidates LIVE, in person, not over the telephone. Mr Hunter will probably be "busy" and not attend. You can still hear about wide range of options available to you for representation - probably the widest variety our district has ever seen, Hope you can attend and know that our district does not need to continue down the current road to nowhere.
greg Chick April 10, 2012 at 03:08 pm
Issa is no friend of mine! neither is "The Fed" Ron Paul and Filner are my at a loss choice
greg Chick April 10, 2012 at 03:13 pm
Will be there if I can. You are so right, we are going in a bad direction and for wrong reasons and led by the wrong people paid for by the cause of the problem.
Mary April 10, 2012 at 03:17 pm
I hope the people of San Diego, and especially his district, are embarrassed. Maybe Wisconsin voters have the right idea. Hope someone in his district starts a recall petition. Why isn't the media (local/national) going after Congress to fix the problem.
Things I Learned April 10, 2012 at 03:27 pm
http://www.usconstitution.org/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-of-america/
Stasha Colin May 9, 2012 at 03:10 pm
What is TRULY crazy are the basics of this country...period.
#1.Borders. Why do we need borders at ALL? The last time I checked, we were all HUMAN BEINGS that reside on the same PLANET. The creation of borders themselves create the problem. Separation of any kind is the same as racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. This creates the illusion of "enemies" & "illegal aliens". Its pretty pathetic. We are all parents, children, sisters and brothers when you look at the bigger picture. #2.Military... Period. Wtf? The fact that war even exists simply baffles my mind. It's right there next to bans on gay marriage and people making comments about "wetbacks" being snuck into "our" city. Comments like that when thrown into a long string of seemingly "intelligent" facts about current "politics" makes your statement lose its validity. The ONLY enemy in this country IS the government. Also, if you are in the military for ANY reason other than the fact that you were FORCED by draft, you are JUST as ignorant and lazy as the politicians pocketing our tax dollars and profiting off the hard work of small business owners who are brave and CREATIVE enough to support themselves. We have the internet... Hello? There are literally a million ways to create ANY form of small business or service on the internet without having to kill people or work for corporations that bully you into conforming to their illusion of what a responsible adult is.People complain every day about their jobs but do NOTHING.
Kevin George May 9, 2012 at 04:29 pm
Ignorant? Yes they would have to be quite ignorant.
No one has been drafted since 1973 and anyone who was drafted into the army would be at least 57 years old. If they are still in the service I am figuring it's voluntary by now. But good luck on all that.
Deena While May 9, 2012 at 04:43 pm
Kevin George's comment appears on front page!! Way to go Patch!!
Tom Yarnall May 9, 2012 at 05:04 pm
Yes Stasha, let's open the borders. With a population of 2.5 billion between them, the Chinese and Indians could sent us 200 or 300 million and solve their over population crises without hardly missing them. Hope you like Chinese food with curry.
James Jones May 9, 2012 at 05:05 pm
"The fact that war even exists simply baffles my mind."
"Separation of any kind is the same as racism, sexism, homophobia, etc." Are you new to this planet?
Doug Curlee May 9, 2012 at 05:43 pm
stasha..i'm a little curious..
what part of the planet did you come from?.. assuming, of course, it was THIS planet.. inquiring minds want to know.. doug
Doug Curlee May 9, 2012 at 05:45 pm
david.. i owe you one,...sorry..
alli can say is that, with about 2 hours sleep in the past 48, i was looking at the old district maps.. shouldn't have been at the computer.. should have been in bed.. again.. mea culpa.. doug
Kevin George May 9, 2012 at 05:49 pm
You know the scary part doug(sic), she probably thinks she's right down the middle:)
Doug Curlee May 9, 2012 at 06:24 pm
kevin.. believe it or not, even I know better than that..
(i know you don't think so..but i really do..:-) doug
Kevin George May 9, 2012 at 06:26 pm
Na, just joshin' ya doug(sic)
Komfort May 9, 2012 at 06:46 pm
Stasha is a Patch "plant" to drum up comment traffic. Don't fall for it.
Kevin George May 9, 2012 at 06:54 pm
K, check out her history, she's the real article.
Ghostly lover and all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVSRm80WzZk
Things I Learned May 9, 2012 at 07:25 pm
Kevin George has been freed!
FREE ANONYMOUS BLOGGERS! Free All Fake Bloggers!
Doug Curlee May 9, 2012 at 07:42 pm
things.. not sure about kevin being free..i saw a couple of large individuals looking for him at town center..
they wanted him to try on this strange jacket..made of white canvas..had all kinds of weird straps and buckles.. and really long sleeves.. i told them i hadn't seen kevin lately.. i think they bought it, but i'm not sure..:-) doug
Kevin George May 9, 2012 at 07:55 pm
One thing is for sure, if Stasha is still free I have some time.
Things I Learned May 9, 2012 at 09:07 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNcRNQIaJEQ
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