Republican to Republican from Conservative Brit.

from Randy Mott

@randymot4

Ukraine aid is not stopping any other priority spending and has an inconsequential impact on the budget: FACTS The bulk of the spending is on weapons and munitions donated. But this is not actually the spending, i.e. it is an in-kind donation. THis equipment was paid for fifteen or twenty years ago. (1) Most of the aid is obsolete equipment and munitions (by DOD standards). It is taken from storage (no US soldier will ever use it again). That has storage cost and decommissioning cost already (never offset in the figures). The value assigned was the book value (a figure much higher than the market value). Those "funds" - an accounting entry- were then used to provide upgraded equiment for the US (stuff we wanted anyway). The amount of "aid" is an accounting entry that does not have any budgetary impact (maybe actually a reduction in the cost of storage and decommissioning). (2) This is the largest part of US aid and if it stopped that would create no budget credit: we would be upgrading the weapons anyway which is where the money is actually spent. To create a positive impact on the budget, DOD would have to cancel this part of the budget and stop this upgrading in the midst of a world where it is now important to do so. (3) The spending to upgrade the donated weapons creates US jobs and tax revenue on the defense companies. The "dynamic" scoring of the spending (net budget impact) here is substantially less than the total cost figure (studies indicate that this could be half of the reported figures). Long-term, the donations will tend to wed Ukraine longer term to US equipment for upgrades, maintenance, etc. All additional economic gains. Successful use of these weapons has also dramatically boosted foreign sales to other countries. Finally this spending is spread out over seven years. (4) A smaller amount of humanitarian aid is given by targeting the purpose and local account of that party. This can be the specific government unit or a private actor or charity. Those funds are wired to that account, verified by third parties and then audited periodically. Reports are given to Congressional oversight (including committees with MAGA Republicans on them opposed to aid, who have never offered an example of misuse or diversion). (5) The total amount of all types of aid to Ukraine is inconsequential in the budget. Politicians who tell you otherwise are lying or playing you for votes by appealing to your bias.

Why are Republicans holding out for Border Control ??

Randy explains why …

Professor Gerdes

INFANTILE BEHAVIOR IN NEGOTIATING UKRAINE AID (But There is a Method to the Madness).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_V8ijtYnjM