Congress is investigating a series of questionable “green” loans made by the Obama administration to a variety of dubious companies, more than a few of which later went bankrupt costing taxpayers billions of dollars. But despite repeated requests, Energy Secretary Steven Chu has so far failed to testify on the matter, forcing Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif., left) to warn him of a potential subpoena if cooperation is not forthcoming.

For nearly four decades Congress has ensured that federal spending rises inexorably by guaranteeing that every budget item increases automatically each year. And woe to anyone who seeks merely to reduce these automatic increases, for he shall be labeled a heartless, slash-and-burn budget cutter!

As the Obama administration prepares to present a budget to Congress that includes $487 billion in military cuts over the next 10 years, some experts are warning that the downsized defense that is planned could severely jeopardize the nation’s security posture. As reported by the Associated Press, the projected military cuts announced by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (left) January 26 would include slashing combat brigades from 45 to as low as 32, and shrinking Army ground forces by at least 80,000 soldiers and the Marines by about 20,000 over the next five years.