Since they've promised billions and billions for a massive government outlay to rebuild after Katrina (doing what they've always accused democrats of - throwing money at problems), they want to make it look balanced by presenting massive budget cuts as well.
That would be a good thing, in and of itself, if they were cutting what they said they were. You can see a copy of their suggestions here
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/House_Rep ... _0922.html
So they've decided to make a number of wonderful cuts to spending, including
1) Tough Choices in Tough Times:
Repeal money for highway improvements
Reduce money for Medicaid administration
Make people pay more for Medicaid
Increase Medicare premium
Impose a home health co-pay of 10%
Eliminate subsidized loans to graduate students
Update the federal pension formula (could be a good thing but I doubt it)
2) Restraining Foreign Aid
Eliminate subscriptions to European Bank
Reduce funding for Global AIDS Initiative
Reduce funding for African Development Foundation
Reduce funding for the Peace Corps
Reduce funding for Andean Counter-Drug initiative
Reduce funding for USAID
3) Reprioritization of Federal Spending:
Eliminate grants for safe and drug-free schools
Eliminate the Even Start program
Eliminate Administration Fees to Schools
Eliminate Leveraging Educational Assistance Program
Eliminate funding for National and Community Service Act
End redistribution of unused federal funds from SCHIP
Eliminate childless adult coverage in SCHIP
Eliminate school lunches for students above 350% of poverty
4) Containing the Federal Bureaucracy:
Eliminate attachè positions in the Foreign Agricultural Service
Cut funding for Department of Education
Reduce funding more for DoE - for Department Administration
Reduce funding for FAA
Reduce funding for Treasury offices
Reduce funding for Office of Management and Budget
Reduce funding for agriculture building and facilities
Reduce funding for agricultural research
5) Eliminating Corporate Welfare: (this one is the most ridiculous of all)
Eliminate Applied Research for Renewable Energy
Eliminate Clean Coal Technology Program
Eliminate FreedomCAR Program
Eliminate Research Initiative for Future Agricultural Systems
Eliminate the Export-Import Bank and OPIC
Impose a fee on GSE's investment portfolio (Fannie Mae, etc - putting them in even worse shape)
Repeal Continued Dumping and SUbsidy Offset Act
Eliminate Foreign Market Development Program
Eliminate Market Access Program
Eliminate Export Enhancement Program
Eliminate the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative
6) Rational Reforms to Defense and Homeland Security
Speed the sale of old and excess naval vessels
Consolidate the Military Exchanges (eliminating some of them I assume)
Close the Domestic Dependent School System
Restrict First-Responder Grants to At-Risk Communities
Introduce HSA's as a TRICARE option (HSA - Health Savings Accounts - where instead of insurance, you're encouraged to save your money pre-tax for your own medical bills)
Suggestions of World-Class Pricks
GOP answer to Katrina aid
GOP answer to Katrina aid
Last edited by R00k on Sat Sep 24, 2005 3:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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HM-PuFFNSTuFF
- Posts: 14376
- Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2001 8:00 am
Ladies and gentlemen... To combat the problems we experienced with Katrina, we're going to make you more stupid, suffer more, and die earlier.
We speak of course of the problem of you being upset at our total incompetence.
We speak of course of the problem of you being upset at our total incompetence.
"Maybe you have some bird ideas. Maybe that’s the best you can do."
― Terry A. Davis
― Terry A. Davis