Defending DoD Spending

President Obama's 2009 defense budget is set for $527 billion, a $14 billion increase from 2008. That $527 billion is actually boosting 2009 defense spending to the number that the Bush Administration had projected for 2010.

But there's an emerging partisan argument that Obama is "cutting the defense budget" this year because the $527 billion is less than the DoD had requested. (As you know, when requesting funds, everyone always OVERrequests so they can get the right amount.) It's designed to make the new administration look bad, and weak.

Let's be clear - the defense budget is scheduled to INCREASE to $527 billion this year, from $513 billion last year.