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Talent expected to defend defense spending in appearance before U.S. House panel

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, July 5, 2011 - Former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., is continuing to highlight his focus on national security with a scheduled appearance Thursday before the U.S. House Budget Committee.

According to a statement from his office, Talent "will provide Chairman Paul Ryan and House Budget Committee members with an update on the condition of America's military and its likely condition in the future if current trends continue."

Talent will "address budget necessities,'' the statement said, bolstering the assumption that Talent would likely push back against Democratic proposals to cut the nation's military spending.

Talent, who lost his Senate seat in 2006 to Democrat Claire McCaskilll, is a distinguished fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, based in Washington, and a member of the Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel. Since then, Talent has spoken extensively before Congress and various groups on national security issues.

Jo Mannies is a freelance journalist and former political reporter at St. Louis Public Radio.