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White House press secretary Jen Psaki is asked about Sen. Joe Manchin’s criticism of attempts to eliminate the filibuster. <\/p>\n
Republicans on Friday blasted President Biden’s request for $753 billion for next fiscal year\u2019s defense budget, saying it’s not enough to counter China’s military modernization plans. <\/p>\n
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., along with other top Senate Republicans, accused the president of prioritizing a “liberal wish list” while “funding for America\u2019s military is neglected.”<\/p>\n
CHINA BOOSTS MILITARY SPENDING AS GOP DEMANDS BIDEN DO THE SAME<\/strong><\/p>\n While Biden\u2019s budget is a slight increase from the $704 billion allotted for defense spending in fiscal year 2021, it actually equates to a decrease in spending by about half a percent after inflation, first reported Bloomberg.<\/p>\n Republicans have called the budget “disappointing” and alleged it will not hold up next to China\u2019s continual expanse in defense spending.<\/p>\n “China aspires to overtake America as the world\u2019s dominant superpower. Over the past decade, China\u2019s defense spending has increased by $200 billion, while America\u2019s has decreased by $400 billion,” the GOP group, including Senators Marco Rubio, Jim Inhofe, Lindsey Graham and Richard Shelby, said in a statement. “China\u2019s military investments match its desire to out-compete America and hold our military forces at risk.”<\/p>\n Earlier this year, China announced a 7% percent increase to its military spending budget for fiscal year 2022 \u2013 a figure that amounts to $208.6 billion.<\/p>\n But U.S. lawmakers are concerned about Beijing\u2019s plan to modernize its military, highlighted in a Defense Department report released in September 2020.<\/p>\n House Republicans urged Biden to increase the military budget by three to five percent last month — more than double the 1.7% increase that the president allotted to the 2022 annual defense budget.<\/p>\n “President Biden\u2019s budget proposal cuts defense spending, sending a terrible signal not only to our adversaries in Beijing and Moscow but also to our allies and partners,” the GOP senators wrote.<\/p>\n But while congressional Republicans are frustrated by the lack of increased spending, some Democrats were equally irked at what they view as a “bloated” defense budget.<\/p>\n