2012 Budget

Making a Case for Congressional Earmarks

By Elliott Suthers on July 12, 2012 - 8:32am

In an interesting article for Defense News last week, Kate Brannen rightly points out, that although earmarks are becoming more difficult to come across, they’re by no means extinct.

Affectionately known as “pork,” earmarks are used by a lawmaker to steer appropriations directly into projects that he or she finds particularly important.

Unfunded Requirements AWOL in 2013 Budget

By Elliott Suthers on May 7, 2012 - 9:52am

As the 2013 defense budget trudges its way through the House markup on Wednesday, there’s one very important element missing from the debate — the services’ annual unfunded requirements list.

Think 2011 Was Rough? Just Wait for Next Year...

By Elliott Suthers on December 22, 2011 - 12:55pm

Well, what a year 2011 was. A new SecDef and Pentagon leadership, sequestration and budget cuts, the debt ceiling debate, bin Laden finally getting his comeuppance, U.S. forces withdrawing from Iraq, acquisition reform and all the merger/acquisition/spin-off activity that seems to have captivated the industry are all enough to make anyone’s head spin. I get tired just thinking about the past 12 months.