Military contractors to testify on potential defense cuts

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

House Republicans will call on the leaders of major military contracting firms Wednesday to detail how they plan to deal with the roughly $500 billion in defense spending cuts set to take effect over the next decade.

The hearing before the House Armed Services Committee is part of an effort to paint President Obama as the person responsible for the potential reductions.

Top executives with EADS North America, Lockheed Martin, Pratt and Whitney, and Williams-Pyro are scheduled to appear before the committee a day after a report commissioned by the aerospace industry warned that cuts in defense spending could cost more than 2 million jobs and raise the national unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points over the next year.

None of the companies has released specific plans to address the cuts, but Lockheed chief executive Robert J. Stevens said last month that his firm may need to notify all employees of the possibility of job losses as early as September or October in advance of the reductions. Current law requires contractors to give employees 60 to 90 days’ notice — depending on the state — of an event that might cause significant job losses or facility closures.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/military-contractors-to-testify-on-potential-defense-cuts/2012/07/17/gJQA6ZOurW_story.html

[Arctic Dave]

1. One group of workers I don't mind seeing a few jobs lost.

Maybe they can retrain them to do something that is for the betterment of mankind instead for the destruction of it.

[creeksneakers2]

2. I'd like to see how many jobs would be lost from the Ryan Medicaid cuts.

[msongs]

3. maybe they could make solar panels and electric cars? nt

[RobertEarl]

4. Government spending creates jobs

There it is right there: cutting federal "...spending could cost more than 2 million jobs and raise the national unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points over the next year. "

Right from the horses mouth. When federal spending is increased jobs are created. When federal spending decreases jobs are lost.

The republicans are dying to kill jobs by cutting federal spending. And at a time when jobs are needed and interest rates are at record lows, federal spending has never been a better option. Of course, more jobs would make Obama look good, so.....

[avaistheone1]

6. Creating jobs by continuing wars and mass destruction is no longer an option this country can afford

There is plenty of infrastructure in this country that sorely needs repair or replacement. That is where the dollars should be spent.

We should revisit single payer health care as well. The California Nurses
Association study says the institution of such a system would create 2.6 million new jobs.

http://yubanet.com/usa/Study-Medicare-for-All-Single-Payer-Reform-Would-Be-Major-Stimulus-for-Economy-with-2-6-Million-New-Jobs_printer.php

[grahamhgreen]

5. Put them to work building solar and wind.

[lilithsrevenge12]

7. It's not like those in service are making a decent wage anyway.

When my friend was at boot camp she was "encouraged" to buy all her cleaning supplies; paid for her second hand uniform straight out of her first check; and when she was stationed in Hawaii, they gave her and her husband $100 a week for food when a gallon of milk costs $9. All of their money goes to fund things like drones and fuck over foot soldiers.