Sen. Graham talks presidential run, defense spending with Beaufort leaders

Sen. Lindsay Graham is continuing to weigh a presidential bid and said an announcement would come by the end of May, during a stop Tuesday in Beaufort to discuss military spending with community leaders.

“My goal is to make sure the next president of the United States, the next generation of war fighters have the capability and capacity to do the job required to keep us free,” said the S.C. Republican senator. “And we’re losing that capability and that capacity through blind budget cuts that nobody thought would ever come about.”

Graham spoke with members of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Military Enhancement Committee, as well as county, municipal and military base leaders.

His primary focus was assuring people that he and others are working to restore military spending. With sequestration returning and a Base Closure and Realignment Commission on the horizon, he’s concerned that reduced spending puts the nation in danger with a military that is understaffed, underprepared and underequipped.

By the end of 2021, military spending will be about 2.3 percent of gross domestic product, about half the historic average, Graham said.

The $94 billion increase worked into the congressional budget will offset, but not solve, funding concerns, he said.

“That will allow us to basically have more money to spend on overseas activities in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places, which will hopefully free up some money here to spend,” he said. “But it is not a fixed problem.”

Graham emphasized his intent to focus on budget solutions, including entitlement reform such as adjusting cost-of-living increases and insurance-premium subsidies for retirees making more than $200,000 a year.

The across-the-board sequestration cuts will be just as damaging, if not more so, than BRAC, Graham said, and he could make no guarantees any specific bases would be safe from the chopping block.

“At the end of the day, these across-the-board cuts are not a good way to reduce spending. They’ve created havoc, and we need to find a way to get this right,” he said. “... There just won’t be enough money to keep all the bases open at the level we’re talking about.”

Graham also emphasized his military background and commitment to national defense, in relation to the presidency and future of the country.

“So when it comes to being commander in chief, the next commander in chief needs to understand the threats to this nation on day one,” he said.

Graham made no commitment toward running but said he’s getting closer to a decision and will make an announcement next month.

Follow reporter Erin Moody at twitter.com/IPBG_Erin.

This story was originally published April 14, 2015 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Sen. Graham talks presidential run, defense spending with Beaufort leaders."