AP: Former top diplomats defend foreign affairs budget
“Former top diplomats defend foreign affairs budget”
By Matthew Lee
Associated Press, April 27, 2010
WASHINGTON — One issue that unites all secretaries of state of either party is maintaining a strong U.S. profile in world affairs.
All eight living secretaries of state have reaffirmed this, signing a joint letter urging Congress not to slash President Barack Obama’s proposed $58.5 billion foreign affairs budget. They called the request critical to America’s security and global presence.
The letter was sent to the Hill after the Senate Budget Committee stripped $4 billion from the spending plan last week. The former top diplomats from Democratic and Republican administrations dating to 1973 argued that full funding of the spending plan is essential.
