Rein in spending

The White House endorsed the Congressional Budget plan designed to head off another round of sequester cuts. The plan proposes reducing future cost of living adjustments for military retirees under 62 years of age.

I'm under 62 and collecting a pension after nearly 22 years of active military service. I'll gladly accept reduced COLA to reduce the national debt. I respectively ask congressional members and the White House do their part as well. Stop paying lifelong benefits for one term of service. Close the congressional gym and barbershop. Stop flying the first family around the world on lavish vacations. Stop subsidizing and bailing out failing businesses and bloated unions. Stop promoting immigration policies encouraging criminals to jump the fence and the citizenship line. Stop sending money to adversarial foreign governments. Share the burden.

Military leaders also could save taxpayers significant money which is why I support targeted military budget cuts. The Pentagon can maintain readiness without purchasing $200 toilet seats. The Missouri National Guard spent over $2 million on questionable security upgrades at the state headquarters, including a giant net designed to capture vehicles that breach a checkpoint. And the adjutant general's personal administrative staff costs over $250,000 annually (performing tasks such as fueling and washing the general's vehicle, speech writing, etc.). Multiply these questionable expenditures by 50 states and there's money to be saved. Again, share the burden.

The national debt is atrocious. The White House and Congress should share the burden to rein in out-of-control spending.

CHAD CRAFT, Jackson