Democrats, Republicans have different takes on speech

March 01--In his first address to a joint session of Congress, a more understated address frequently punctuated with bursts of applause, President Donald Trump hit on expected points: the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, immigration enforcement, tax reform and unity in the country, among numerous topics.

Trump also briefly addressed his plans to increase defense spending and strengthen the military, plans that he is expected to discuss in greater detail when he visits the Newport News shipyard on Thursday.

"I am sending the Congress a budget that rebuilds the military, eliminates the defense sequester, and calls for one of the largest increases in national defense spending in American history." Trump said, drawing applause.

In a Monday news briefing from the White House, a Trump spokesman said the president will propose a $54 billion increase in defense spending, a jump of 10 percent. In Tuesday's speech, Trump did not address what cuts would be made to provide the increased funds to defense spending.

A surge in defense spending would have a significant impact on Hampton Roads. Newport News Shipbuilding is the only builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of two builders of nuclear-powered submarines. The shipyard's parent company, Huntington Ingalls Industries, is the largerst military shipbuilder in the United States.

The Navy fleet has about 275 ships with plans to reach 308. Trump proposed a fleet of 350 ships, while the Navy's assessment calls for 355 ships.

"Our military will be given the resources its brave warriors so richly deserve," Trump said early on in his speech. He later said, "we must provide the men and women of the United States military with the tools they need to prevent war. And if they must, they have to fight and they have to win."

Following Trump's speech, Rep. Robb Wittman, R-Westmoreland stated in a release, "Tonight President Trump made clear that we will keep the promises made to the American people." Wittman highlighted Trump's focus on a defense strategy that would provide new resources to the military as the most important idea the president addressed.

Rep. Scott Taylor, R-Virginia Beach, said he felt it was Trump's best speech and had a strong tone of optimism and unity. He also pointed out the president's honoring of Carryn Owens, the widow of Navy Senior Chief William "Ryan" Owens, as a special moment that received an unprecedented response.

Regarding defense spending, Taylor said plans to ramp up defense would benefit the area, but more importantly, they would provide safety for the benefit of the entire counntry.

Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News, was critical of the proposed defense spending increase, saying the budget math doesn't add up. "While his proposal for increased defense spending and eliminating the sequester for the Department of Defense would certainly benefit parts of the Hampton Roads economy, the draconian spending cuts required to offset these increases would negatively impact thousands of hard working Virginia families and disrupt other areas of our region's economy," Scott said in a release.

Sen. Mark Warner said the speech raised more questions than it answered. Warner said, "despite his claims to be concerned about our deficit, I am deeply concerned that the Trump agenda will make our nation's underlying $20 trillion debt even worse."

He also said Trump's "plans for more cuts in discretionary spending will not even begin to pay for his proposed increases in defense spending, and neither will cuts to foreign aid or wildly unrealistic promises of economic growth."

Reyes can be reached by phone at 757-247-4692.

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