bush wants to further hinder the National Guard

National Guard Plan Proves a Tough Sell
WASHINGTON - A Pentagon plan to restructure the Army National Guard has sparked bipartisan outcries in Congress even before President Bush's formal proposal, showing the clout of a force that draws members from communities across America.

Lawmakers' pre-emptive objections also point out the hurdles facing the administration as it seeks to persuade Congress to accept any defense changes that might hurt people back home.

Bush will ask Congress on Monday to give the Pentagon $439.3 billion, excluding the costs of fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, for the budget year that begins Oct. 1. The plan will include about $5.25 billion to pay for the current numbers of Army National Guard forces, but not the higher level that Congress has authorized and lawmakers say is needed in wartime.

Additionally, the Pentagon wants to shift some Guard brigades from combat roles to support units.

"I don't see how in the world the Guard meets its mission," said Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C. Added Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.: "You can mark my words. They're not going to cut the National Guard."

His point is that lawmakers will not allow it, even though Congress is controlled by Bush's own Republican Party.

In fact, a bipartisan group of 75 senators said in a letter Thursday to the president that they "strongly oppose these proposals."
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The Pentagon wants to pay for about 333,000 citizen soldiers — the current total — rather than the 350,000 that Congress has authorized. The Army Reserve force of 188,000 would be paid for instead of the 205,000 benchmark approved by Congress.

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Our military is already stretched to the breaking point, and the National Guard already cannot do it's job of protecting the citizens here at home, and bush wants to CUT their budget?!
More of the bush's version of "supporting the troops"!
This time even the repugs aren't going to stand for it!