“The idea that Americans’ would want to keep total defense spending up so as to preserve local jobs is not supported by the data.”-Steven Kull, Program for Public Consultation

On 16 July 2012, the Program for Public Consultation (run through the University of Maryland) announced that surveys showed both Democrats and Republican voters want to drastically cut tax spending on the U.S. Department of Defense!

The survey was also conducted by the Stimson Center’s Budgeting for Foreign Affairs and Defense program, and the Center for Public Integrity’s National Security program.

According to the survey, 80% of people who consider themselves Democrats favor drastic cuts to the military, but, so do 74% of people who consider themselves Republicans!

And when the survey asked specifically about healthcare spending on military families and retirees, Republicans jumped on that, with a call for cutting that budget by $7.4 billion USD!

Don’t worry Red voters, Democrats also wanted to cut benefits for military families and retirees, but by only $6.6 billion!

More details here.