By Lonnie Scott
MICHIGAN — As part of a National Day of Action across the U.S., Michigan Citizen Action hosted a tele-press conference to demand an end to wasteful Pentagon spending and thank Senator Carl Levin for his leadership on this issue.
“Pull the Pork from the Pentagon: Protect our Priorities. Protect Our Middle Class” events are taking place in Michigan and in more than two dozen states across the country today. In Lansing, Michigan Citizen Action delivered over 3800 petition signatures to Senator Carl Levin thanking him for his leadership on this issue. For more information about events nationally, please visit www.pullthepork.org. Nationally, more than 100,000 USAction members have signed petitions demanding that Congress take action.
“Pull the Pork from the Pentagon,” the National Day of Action, is taking place as Congress faces a series of deadlines on our country’s budget priorities, including possible automatic spending cuts scheduled to take place beginning Friday.
“Senator Car Levin has been a leader from day one of this fiscal debate, calling for a balanced and sensible approach to our nations fiscal crisis,” said Linda Teeter, Executive Director of Michigan Citizen Action. “At issue today is not the size of government but rather who government works for – military contractor CEOs or working families and the middle class. We must recognize that strength and respect abroad are built, and based, on economic strength at home. And we cannot thrive if obsolete and unnecessary weapons systems are consuming our precious resources. Senator Carl Levin recognizes this and that is why today we are here to thank him and to call on Congress to follow his lead.”
Michigan Citizen Action noted that the heads of three of America’s largest military contractors earn a combined $74.4 million a year – the head of Northrop Gunman makes $26 million; the head of Lockheed Martin, $25.4 million; and the head of Boeing, $23 million.
The Tele-press conference also featured Joyce Gerhinger of the Huntington Woods Peace Citizenship and Education group.