Budget Matters Blog

Entries By Lindsay Koshgarian


Call Congress: No War With Iran

War is imminent. Present Trump authorized a military strike to kill Iranian military leader Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani in Baghdad, an act that has driven the Iranians to swear retaliation.  The military action to kill Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani was dangerous, illegal and possibly untruthful. The United States must avoid war with...

Fall Party 2019 in Northampton MA!

Join us October 29 in Northampton, MA!


Remembering Frances Crowe

This week, Frances Crowe, the lifelong peace and anti-nuclear activist (among other causes), passed away. She was 100 years old, and she estimated that she’d been arrested for civil disobedience at least 100 times.


The Bipartisan $738 Billion Military Budget Deal

In July, lawmakers voted along bipartisan lines to pass a budget deal (now also Trump-approved) that will fund the federal government for the next two years, and help the United States avoid a potentially catastrophic default on its debt for the same period. But the deal didn’t come cheap: it came at the price of an astoundingly high, $738 billion military budget.


Ten Good Things About the House’s (Too-Big) Military Budget

On Friday the House of Representatives voted 220-197 to approve a military budget of $733 billion through the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).


What Wasn't Said at the First Democratic Debate - But Should Have Been

Ten candidates answered questions on a range of topics from five moderators at the first Democratic presidential debate last night. Here's what the candidates and moderators didn't say, but should have.


Introducing the Poor People's Moral Budget: Everybody Has the Right to Live

For the 140 million people who are poor, or one emergency away from being poor, we know it's necessary to present a comprehensive response to the systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism, and war economy plaguing our country today. This Poor People’s Moral Budget asks, given the resources of our society, whether these demands are also possible. Our answer is a resounding yes.


It's time to put people over Pentagon & slash $200 billion from the military budget

We're joining a coalition to urge 2020 candidates to cut military funds enough to free $2 trillion or more over the next decade for big, bold, urgent people-first priorities.


The United States and Saudi Arabia Take the Top Two Spots in World Military Spending Per Person

Last week, the Stockholm International Peace Institute released their annual look at world military spending. Once again, the United States is on top. We spent more than one third of the world's total, two and a half times as much as the second coutnry on the list (China), and more than the next seven countries combined.


Your taxes provided $48 billion to Lockheed Martin. And some other stuff.

April 15, 2019 is Tax Day. Do you know where your tax dollars are? Here's a hint: military contractors cost the average taxpayer more than the price of a new Macbook Pro, but public housing costs the average taxpayer less than a curling iron from Wal-Mart. The average American paid...