Pence Touts Proposed Increase in Military Spending During Visit to Hawaii Base

US Vice President Mike Pence greeted troops at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii on Monday, April 24, thanking them for their service and touting President Donald Trump’s commitment to supplement the military’s budget.Pence’s Hawaii visit came at the end of an Asia-Pacific trip, during which he stopped by South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Australia and American Samoa. The trip was cut short by a day due to domestic issues, including a new tax reform plan and a new spending package.If the spending package is not passed before Friday, the government may shut down, according to CBS.“There’s a spending bill that’s being considered as we speak; President’s working even in what remains of this budget year to begin to supplement our military spending,” Pence said in his speech. “President truly believes that the time has come for us to rebuild this military and the budget that the president submitted… had the largest single year increase in military spending since the days of the Reagan administration.”“It is the greatest privilege of my life to serve as vice president to a president who cares so deeply about the men and women of our armed forces, their families and our veterans and I know in my heart, President Donald Trump is going to be the best friend the American armed forces have ever had in the White House.”