Though usually a fiscal hawk, Iowa Rep. Steve King is fully on board with President Trump’s plan to hike military spending, even if it means increasing the national debt.
The Republican lawmaker, speaking on CNN Tuesday, said he wants Trump to push a balanced budget amendment during his speech to Congress Tuesday night, but he says Trump’s proposed $54 billion spending increase on the military is necessary.
“The military spending needs to happen,” King said. “It’s been a victim of sequestration for a number of years, and our military readiness is not there.”
King added the military spending is good for American diplomatic power abroad as well. He pointed to Chinese and Russian influence increasing in the rest of the world and said an increased military budget could help counter those countries.
“They don’t respect us, so that needs to be rebuilt,” King said.
Trump is also expected to propose a tax cut, both on businesses and on Americans’ income, but King remains skeptical of mixing increased military spending with a tax cut.
“I’m open to the tax cut, yes … they do stimulate growth,” King said. “But, I look at the tax proposals out there and I’m a little uneasy.”
