Spratt: defense spending plans not realistic.

• Author: Book, Elizabeth G.
• Position: Washington Pulse

"The Bush administration is committing itself to a huge defense buildup whose costs exceed the administration's budget projections and will last long after President Bush leaves office," said Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C), the ranking member of the House Budget Committee. Spratt's comments were in response to the release of a Congressional Budget Office report, "The Long-Term Implications of Current Defense Plans."

"The administration's current defense plans call for ambitious increases for defense through 2007 on top of substantial increases made so far. By 2007, funding for defense will rise to the same level in inflation-adjusted terms as the average level of defense spending in the 1 980s," Spratt said,

"By 2012, funding would exceed the peak year of 1985," he said.

"Procuring the weapons systems the Bush administration is developing to replace current or...