Letter to the Editor, Monterey County Herald, July 23

Cut the military budget

Progressive Democrats in Congress recently tried to get a 10% cut in the $740.5 billion 2021 military budget so the savings could be used to pay for housing, health care and education for millions of struggling Americans. But every Republican and all but 93 pro-peace Democratic representatives voted to keep the military budget as it is.

Not surprisingly, our local congressman Jimmy Panetta voted to keep the Defense budget intact. Apparently Rep. Panetta is satisfied with the bloated military budget (more than the next 10 countries combined) and less concerned with desperately needed programs to help disadvantaged people in our communities. Perhaps we need a far-sighted progressive Democrat representing our district rather than the unimaginative moderate we currently have.

— Arlen Grossman, Del Rey Oaks

                                                          Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)