Serving Ideology not Voters...

[GoodWitch58]

Serving ideology, not voters - St. Petersburg Times

The cuts would hurt Floridians who can least afford it. An estimated 9,148 children in the state would lose access to Head Start, the early childhood education program. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a research group, about 565,000 low-income college students would see their Pell Grants reduced or eliminated. About $30 million would be lost in special education grants that help the state meet the needs of disabled students. So would about $38 million in federal Title I money, which flows to public schools in low-income communities. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, who voted against the measure, estimates Florida would have to lay off nearly 2,000 teachers if the House bill becomes law.

As Florida worries about attracting high-paying jobs, the House would slash $300 million from NASA's budget and $441 million from the Army Corps of Engineers, invariably affecting the restoration of the Everglades.

At least Young drew a line, where Bilirakis and Nugent did not. Long an expert in appropriations, Young voted against an amendment pushed by the most conservative House Republicans to cut another $22 billion in spending. Perhaps he can be the voice of reason in the stampede to cut spending without considering the consequences.

This is not a responsible blueprint for governing or reducing the deficit, which will require more focus on defense and entitlements. It accomplishes very little deficit-cutting while strangling investments in education and infrastructure, limiting regulators, and leaving too many poor Americans to fend for themselves.

 

[30ashopper]

Among the items approved Friday, lawmakers approved amendments that would block all federal funding for Planned Parenthood, bar any federal agency from spending money on implementing the new health care law, and limit the activities of the Environmental Protection Agency.

A bid by a group of the most conservative House members to cut an additional $22 billion failed Friday after encountering opposition from moderate Republicans and Democrats.

But, since debate began Tuesday, the Republican majority has passed cuts affecting programs they have traditionally opposed. These include millions in dollars of funding for the arts, heating subsidies for poor households, financial services regulation and Internet regulation.

One of the largest additional budget cuts happened Wednesday, when lawmakers of both parties agreed to an amendment stripping $450 million slated to build a new engine for the F-35 fighter jet.

Lawmakers also voted to avert some major cuts. They agreed to restore funding that would keep some firefighters and police officers on the payroll through September, despite an $800 million tab for both.

The House also voted to protect $450 million slated for Amtrak train service, as well as another $200 million in financial help for struggling nations abroad.

House approves $60 billion in budget cuts - Feb. 18, 2011

From my perspective, this represents a great start on things. Not perfect, but a great start.

 

[idlewind]

I applaud the start, but really, Amtrak must go. And we are a struggling nation ourselves, let China give these countries money. If it buys them as much favor as out decades of wasteful foriegn aid has bought us then we would net a foriegn policy coup. And why is the federal government paying for local firemen and police officers anyway? If these areas want the protection then they should fund it with local taxes, not expect the sugar daddy in Washington to pay.

 

[idlewind]

The article is predictable liberal handwringing about losing their sacred cows. I say, a dollar cut is a dollar we do not have to borrow. You have to start somewhere folks.

 

[scooterbug44]

Yes, you do have to start somewhere - but most of these are short sighted cuts to programs that build our infrastructure and save us money in the future.

You want to really throw up some numbers and do something, you have to look at the $$$ budget items.

This is akin to washing down a supersized McDonald's meal with a diet drink because you want to lose weight. Wrong focus, minor improvements if any, and you are doing more harm than good.

 

[idlewind]

Yes, you do have to start somewhere - but most of these are short sighted cuts to programs that build our infrastructure and save us money in the future.

You want to really throw up some numbers and do something, you have to look at the $$$ budget items.

This is akin to washing down a supersized McDonald's meal with a diet drink because you want to lose weight. Wrong focus, minor improvements if any, and you are doing more harm than good.

Which of these programs "build our infrastructure" and "save us money?" And even if they are beneficial, why can't private groups do them better? Why should my taxes support things like the National Endowment of the Arts and PBS that promote things I disagree with? Especially when we are broke?

 

[30ashopper]

Yes, you do have to start somewhere - but most of these are short sighted cuts to programs that build our infrastructure and save us money in the future.

You want to really throw up some numbers and do something, you have to look at the $$$ budget items.

This is akin to washing down a supersized McDonald's meal with a diet drink because you want to lose weight. Wrong focus, minor improvements if any, and you are doing more harm than good.

This was a start. They committed to 100 billion, that fell to 30 billion, and they ended up with 61 billion. Not bad for a budget that should have been finalized and signed into law by last October. Of course this still hasn?t pass the Senate so, we may well end up going the entire fiscal year without passing anything. The big showdown coming up here in a few weeks with the government shutdown should be interesting.

 

[Matt J]

Which of these programs "build our infrastructure" and "save us money?" And even if they are beneficial, why can't private groups do them better? Why should my taxes support things like the National Endowment of the Arts and PBS that promote things I disagree with? Especially when we are broke?

You give up money for "faith based programs" and I'll give up the National Endowment for the Arts and PBS.

 

[scooterbug44]

Lack of education, poor nutrition, lack of decent health care - all things that cost way more to address the effects of then to prevent.

 

[AlphaCrab]

I would change and broaden this post title to: Serving Ideology and Corporations and not serving voters and workers.